ey, both Scotch and English, now in my possession, but not one
friend in the whole world on whom I could rely. One devoted friend, it
is true, I had, but he was become my greatest terror. To escape from
him, I now felt that I would willingly travel to the farthest corners
of the world, and be subjected to every deprivation; but after the
certainty of what had taken place last night, after I had travelled
thirty miles by secret and by-ways, I saw not how escape from him was
possible.

Miserable, forlorn, and dreading every person that I saw, either behind
or before me, I hasted on towards Edinburgh, taking all the by and
unfrequented paths; and, the third night after I left the weaver's
house, I reached the West Port, without meeting with anything
remarkable. Being exceedingly fatigued and lame, I took lodgings in the
first house I entered, and for these I was to pay two groats a week,
and to board and sleep with a young man who wanted a companion to make
his rent easier. I liked this; having found from experience that the
great personage who had attached himself to me, and was now become my
greatest terror among many surrounding evils, generally haunted me when
I was alone keeping aloof from all other society.

My fellow lodger came home in the evening, and was glad at my coming.
His name was Linton, and I changed mine to Elliot. He was a flippant
unstable being, one on whom nothing appeared a difficulty, in his own
estimation, but who could effect very little after all. He was what is
called by some a compositor, in the Queen's printing house, then
conducted by a Mr. James Watson. In the course of our conversation that
night, I told him I was a first-rate classical scholar, and would
gladly turn my attention to some business wherein my education might
avail me something; and that there was nothing would delight me so much
as an engagement in the Queen's printing office. Linton made no
difficulty in bringing about that arrangement. His answer was: "Oo, gud
sir, you are the very man we want. Gud bless your breast and your
buttons, sir! Aye, that's neither here nor there. That's all very well.
Ha, ha, ha. A by-word in the house, sir. But, as I was saying, you are
the very man we want. You will get any money you like to ask, sir. Any
money you like, sir. God bless your buttons!--That's settled--All
done--Settled, setded--I'll do it, I'll do it--No more about it; no
more about it. Settled, settled."

The next day I went