e.

I was again nearly forgetting myself, affronted at the idea of sixpence
being offered to me; but I recovered myself, saying, as I took it, "A
poor labouring man, sir."

"What, with those hands?" said he, looking at them as I took the money;
and then looking at my face, he continued, "I think we have met before,
my lad--I cannot be sure; you know best--I am a Bow Street magistrate."

In a moment, I remembered that he was the very magistrate before whom I
had twice made my appearance. I coloured deeply, and made no reply.

"Well, my lad, I'm not on my bench now, and this sixpence you have earned
honestly. I trust you will continue in the right path. Be careful--I have
sharp eyes." So saying, he rode off.

I never felt more mortified. It was evident that he considered me as one
who was acting a part for unworthy purposes; perhaps one of the swell
mob or a flash pickpocket rusticating until some hue and cry was over.
"Well, well," thought I, as I took up a lump of dirt and rubbed over my
then white hands, "it is my fate to be believed when I deceive, and to
be mistrusted when I am acting honestly;" and I returned to the bench
for my bundle, which--was gone. I stared with astonishment. "Is it
possible?" thought I. "How dishonest people are! Well, I will not carry
another for the present. They might as well have left me my stick." So
thinking, and without any great degree of annoyance at the loss, I turned
from the bench and walked away, I knew not whither. It was now getting
dark, but I quite forgot that it was necessary to look out for a lodging;
the fact is, that I had been completely upset by the observations of the
magistrate, and the theft of my bundle; and, in a sort of brown study,
from which I was occasionally recalled for a moment by stumbling over
various obstructions, I continued my walk on the pathway until I was
two or three miles away from Brentford. I was within a mile of Hounslow,
when I was roused by the groans of some person, and it being now dark
I looked round, trying to catch by the ear the direction in which to
offer my assistance. They proceeded from the other side of a hedge, and
I crawled through, where I found a man lying on the ground, covered with
blood about the head, and breathing heavily. I untied his _neckcloth_,
and, as well as I could, examined his condition. I bound his handkerchief
round his head, and perceiving that the position in which he was lying
was very unfavourable, his he