was so like me,
and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him
face to face--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 the world. Thus do the most cunning overreach
themselves, and with their eyes open to any deceit on the part of
others, prove quite blind when they deceive themselves.

Timothy could not obtain any intelli