mall property which the former left
was carefully invested, and faithfully nursed during my minority, by a
scrupulous and honest lawyer, in no way connected with us, but whom my
father named as executor in his will, and my guardian. Ill health
prevented my getting on at school. I can't say that I was an invalid,
but my constitution was delicate and my temperament nervous. I tried to
make some progress in the study of a profession, under my excellent
guardian, but was forced to give it up as too trying to my nerves. The
excitement of a court-room I could not endure for a day, much less for a
lifetime. Before I was twenty-five, my income had so much increased that
I could afford to travel. I have gained in this way my health, which,
however, would become impaired should I return to a sedentary life; so,
as a matter of necessity, I have wandered about the world. You see my
story is soon told."

I found Mr. Belcher was not in the habit of talking about himself, and I
liked him the better for it. Without pressing for a more particular
account, I led the conversation to treat of the different countries he
had visited, referring, by the way, to some principal objects of
attraction. Here I touched an idiosyncrasy of my new friend.

"I never formed," he said, "any distinct 'plan' of travel. I never 'did'
Paris in eight days, nor the gallery of the Louvre in half an hour, as
they have been done by an acquaintance. I never opened a guide-book in
my life; I never employed a _commissionere_, a _valet_, a _courier_, a
_cicerone_, or a _dragoman_. My pleasure has been to let the
remarkable--the beautiful--the interesting--burst upon me without
introduction, and I have found my account in it. I have quitted the Val
d'Arno, turned off from the Lake of Como, passed to the wrong side of
Lake Leman and its romantic castles, pursuing my way, regardless of
these well-worn attractions, while I beheld rarer--at least familiar
scenes--and enjoyed with zest what was fresh and unhackneyed. No
everlasting 'route'--no mercenary and dishonest landlords--no troops of
travellers, travelling that they may become 'travelled'--but in place of
all this, I saw every thing naturally--the country in its
simplicity--the inhabitants in their simplicity--while, I trust, I have
preserved my own simplicity. Indeed, I rather prefer what your tourist
calls an 'uninteresting region.'"

"For that reason," I remarked, pleasantly, "you have come here to Calais
to sp