told me. How then, even if it were his
ghost, could you have recognised him?"

The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of.

"Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me,
and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him
face to face--that--that--I'm a great fool, that's the fact."

"You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to
face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will
feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have
heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so
much about him."

"I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever
been in my thoughts."

"I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their
fathers' memories--but finish your breakfast, and then we start for
London."

I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our
road. I fell into a reverie--my object was to again find out this
person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys
the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not
inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me.
"Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you,
said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a _little tete
montee_ upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made
no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major
never had any suspicions on this point--yet he certainly never had. We
had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that
my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a
large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect
replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who
was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been
deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous
as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune
arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the
name of _Japhet_ for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear,
after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to
acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in
confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my
own way in th