ave had a glorious opportunity to
indulge the taste, but it was the very least of all his tendencies.

He would indeed, have liked much to review his life, and map out
something of his future road; but he could do nothing of this kind
without a companion. Asking him to think for himself and by himself was
pretty much like asking him to play chess or backgammon with himself,
where it depended on his caprice which side was to be the winner.
The habit of self-depreciation had, besides, got hold of him, and he
employed it as an excuse to cover his inertness. "What's the use of my
doing this, that, or t'other? I 'll be a stupid dog to the end of the
chapter. It's all waste of time to set me down to this or that. Other
fellows could learn it,--it's impossible for _me_."

It is strange how fond men will grow of pleading _in forma pauperis_ to
their own hearts,--even men constitutionally proud and high-spirited.
Tony had fallen into this unlucky habit, and got at last to think it was
his safest way in life to trust very little to his judgment.

"If I had n't been 'mooning,' I 'd not have walked under the pole of the
omnibus, nor chanced upon this poor fellow, whose bundle I have carried
away, nor lost my own kit, which, after all, was something to me."
Worse than all these--infinitely worse--was the thought of how that
poor peasant would think of him! What a cruel lesson of mistrust
and suspicion have I implanted in that honest heart! "What a terrible
revulsion must have come over him, when he found I had sailed away and
left him!" Poor Tony's reasoning was not acute enough to satisfy him
that the man could not accuse him for what was out of his power to
prevent,--the departure of the steamer; nor with Tony's own luggage in
his possession, could he arraign his honesty, or distrust his honor.

He bethought him that he would consult Waters, for whose judgment in
spavins, thoroughpins, capped hocks, and navicular lameness, he had the
deepest veneration. Waters, who knew horses so thoroughly, must needs
not be altogether ignorant of men.

"I say, Tom," cried he, "sit down here, and let me tell you something
that's troubling me a good deal, and perhaps you can give me some advice
on it." They sat down accordingly under the shelter of a horse-box,
while Tony related circumstantially his late misadventure.

The old coachman heard him to the end without interruption. He smoked
throughout the whole narrative, only now and then remo