idding farewell to Nattee and the rest
of the gipsies, we all set out--that is, Melchior, I, Timothy, Fleta,
Num, and Jumbo. Late in the evening we arrived at the little town of
--, and took up our quarters at a public-house, with the landlord of
which Melchior had already made arrangements.

"Well, Timothy," said I, as soon as we were in bed, "how do you like our
new life and prospects?"

"I like it better than Mr Cophagus's _rudimans_, and carrying out
physic, at all events. But how does your dignity like turning Merry
Andrew, Japhet?"

"To tell you the truth, I do not dislike it. There is a wildness and a
devil-may-care feeling connected with it which is grateful to me at
present. How long it may last I cannot tell; but for a year or two it
appears to me that we may be very happy. At all events, we shall see
the world, and have more than one profession to fall back upon."

"That is true; but there is one thing that annoys me, Japhet, which is,
we may have difficulty in leaving these people when we wish. Besides,
you forget that you are losing sight of the principal object you had in
view, that is, of finding out your father."

"I certainly never expect to find him among the gipsies," replied I,
"for children are at a premium with them. They steal from others, and
are not very likely therefore to leave them at the Foundling. But I do
not know whether I have not as good a chance in our present employment
as in any other. I have often been thinking that as fortune-tellers we
may get hold of many strange secrets; however, we shall see. Melchior
says, that he intends to appear in that character as soon as he has made
a harvest in his present one."

"What do you think of Melchior, now that you have been so much with
him?"

"I think him an unprincipled man, but still with many good qualities.
He appears to have a pleasure in deceit, and to have waged war with the
world in general. Still he is generous, and, to a certain degree,
confiding; kind in his disposition, and apparently a very good husband.
There is something on his mind which weighs him down occasionally, and
checks him in the height of his mirth. It comes over him like a dark
cloud over a bright summer sun; and he is all gloom for a few minutes.
I do not think that he would _now_ commit any great crime; but I have a
suspicion that he has done something which is a constant cause of
remorse."

"You are a very good judge of character, Japhet. B