us for months, I had some trouble, at first, in
checking his vivacity and turn for ridicule; but that was gradually
effected, and I found him not only a great acquisition, but, as he
always was, a cheerful and affectionate companion. I had, during the
first days of our meeting, recounted my adventures, and made many
inquiries of Timothy relative to my few friends. He told me that from
Mr Masterton he had learnt that Lady de Clare and Fleta had called upon
him very much afflicted with the contents of my letter--that Lord
Windermear also had been very much vexed and annoyed--that Mr Masterton
had advised him to obtain another situation as a valet, which he had
refused, and, at the same time, told him his intention of searching for
me. He had promised Mr Masterton to let him know if he found me, and
then bade him farewell.

"I used to lie in bed, Japhet," continued Timothy, "and think upon the
best method of proceeding. At last I agreed to myself, that to look for
you as you looked after your father would be a wild-goose chase, and
that my money would soon be gone; so I reflected whether I might not
take up some roving trade which would support me, and, at the same time,
enable me to proceed from place to place. What do you think was my
first speculation? Why, I saw a man with a dog harnessed in a little
cart; crying dog's meat and cat's meat, and I said to myself, `Now
there's the very thing--there's a profession--I can travel and earn my
livelihood.' I entered into conversation with him, as he stopped at a
low public-house, treating him to a pot of beer; and having gained all I
wanted as to the mysteries of the profession, I called for another pot,
and proposed that I should purchase his whole concern, down to his knife
and apron. The fellow agreed, and after a good deal of bargaining, I
paid him three guineas for the _set out_ or _set up_, which you please.
He asked me whether I meant to hawk in London or not, and I told him no,
that I should travel the country. He advised the western road, as there
were more populous towns in it. Well, we had another pot to clench the
bargain, and I paid down the money and took possession, quite delighted
with my new occupation. Away I went to Brentford, selling a bit here
and there by the way, and at last arrived at the very bench where we had
sat down together and eaten our meal."

"It is strange that I did the same, and a very unlucky bench it proved
to me."

"So it di