eeling; so did I, when
I had reflected upon it, and I despised myself for my vanity and folly.

"What are you thinking of, Japhet?" observed Mr Masterton, tired with
my long abstraction.

"That I have been making a most egregious fool of myself, sir," replied
I, "with respect to the de Clares."

"I did not say so, Japhet; but to tell you the truth, I thought
something very like it. Now tell me, were you not jealous at finding
her in company with Harcourt?"

"Exactly so, sir."

"I'll tell Susannah Temple when see I her, that she may form some idea
of your constancy," replied Mr Masterton, smiling. "Why what a dog in
the manger you must be--you can't marry them both. Still, under the
circumstances, I can analyse the feeling--it is natural, but all that is
natural is not always creditable to human nature. Let us talk a little
about Susannah, and all these vagaries will be dispersed. How old is
she?"

Mr Masterton plied me with so many questions relative to Susannah, that
her image alone soon filled my mind, and I recovered my spirits. "I
don't know what she will say, at my being in this dress, sir," observed
I. "Had I not better change it on my arrival?"

"By no means; I'll fight your battle--I know her character pretty well,
thanks to your raving about her."

PART THREE, CHAPTER NINETEEN.

CONTAINS MUCH LEARNED ARGUMENT UPON BROAD BRIMS AND GARMENTS OF GREY--I
GET THE BEST OF IT--THE ONE GREAT WISH OF MY LIFE IS GRANTED--I MEET MY
FATHER, AND A COLD RECEPTION, VERY INDICATIVE OF MUCH AFTER-HEAT.

We arrived in good time at Reading, and, as soon as we alighted at the
inn, we ordered dinner, and then walked down to the shop, where we found
Timothy very busy tying down and labelling. He was delighted to see Mr
Masterton; and perceiving that I had laid aside the Quaker's dress, made
no scruple of indulging in his humour, making a long face, and
_thee-ing_ and _thou-ing_ Mr Masterton in a very absurd manner. We
desired him to go to Mr Cophagus, and beg that he would allow me to
bring Mr Masterton to drink tea, and afterwards to call at the inn and
give us the answer. We then returned to our dinner.

"Whether they will ever make a Quaker of you, Japhet, I am very
doubtful," observed Mr Masterton, as we walked back; "but as for making
one of that fellow Timothy, I'll defy them."

"He laughs at everything," replied I, "and views everything in a
ridiculous light--at all events, they never will make him