I've been
last, digging gold. My mate, as was with me, got a talking about the old
country, and wrought on me so that I went back with him to see it again.
So, instead of gambling away all my money over there" (Mat carelessly
jerked his hand in a westerly direction), "I've come to spend it over
here; and I'm going down into the country to-morrow, to see if anybody
lives to own me at the old place."

"And suppose nobody does? What then?"

"Then I shall go back again. After twenty years among the savages, or
little better, I'm not fit for the sort of thing as goes on among
you here. I can't sleep in a bed; I can't stop in a room; I can't be
comfortable in decent clothes; I can't stray into a singing-shop, as
I did to-night, without a dust being kicked up all round me, because I
haven't got a proper head of hair like everybody else. I can't shake
up along with the rest of you, nohow; I'm used to hard lines and a
wild country; and I shall go back and die over there among the lonesome
places where there's plenty of room for me." And again Mat jerked his
hand carelessly in the direction of the American continent.

"Oh, don't talk about going back!" cried Zack; "you're sure to find
somebody left at home--don't you think so yourself, old fellow?"

Mat made no answer. He suddenly slackened; then, as suddenly, increased
his pace; dragging young Thorpe with him at a headlong rate.

"You're sure to find somebody," continued Zack, in his offhand, familiar
way. "I don't know--gently! we're not walking for a wager--I don't know
whether you're married or not?" (Mat still made no answer, and walked
faster than ever.) "But if you havn't got wife or child, every fellow's
got a father and mother, you know; and most fellows have got brothers or
sisters--"

"Good night," said Mat, stopping short, and abruptly holding out his
hand.

"Why! what's the matter now?" asked Zack, in astonishment. "What do you
want to part company for already? We are not near the end of the streets
yet. Have I said anything that's offended you?"

"No, you havn't. You can come and talk to me if you like, the day after
to-morrow. I shall be back then, whatever happens. I said I'd be like
a brother to you; and that means, in my lingo, doing anything you ask.
Come and smoke a pipe along with me, as soon as I'm back again. Do you
know Kirk Street? It's nigh on the Market. Do you know a 'bacco shop in
Kirk Street? It's got a green door, and Fourteen written on it