"I have learnt caution, young as I
am."

"That I have perceived already, and therefore I have said enough on the
subject. I have but one bed, and you must sleep with me, as you did on
our travels."

The next morning the old woman of the house brought up their breakfast.
Spikeman lived in a very comfortable way, very different to what he did
as a travelling tinker; and he really appeared to Joey to be, with the
exception of his conversation, which was always superior, a very
different person from what he was when Joey first fell in with him. For
many days they remained at Dudstone, visiting the different houses, and
were always well received.

"You appear so well known, and so well liked in this town," observed
Joey, "I wonder you do not set up a business, particularly as you say
you have money in the bank."

"If I did, Joey, I should no longer be happy, no longer be my own
master, and do as I please; in fact, I should no longer be the
gentleman, that is, the gentleman by profession, as near as I can be
one--the man who has his liberty, and enjoys it. No, no, boy; I have
tried almost everything, and have come to my own conclusions. Have you
been reading the book I gave you?"

"Yes; I have nearly finished it?"

"I am glad to see that you like reading. Nothing so much improves or
enlarges the mind. You must never let a day pass without reading two or
three hours, and when we travel again, and are alone by the way-side, we
will read together: I will choose some books on purpose."

"I should like very much to write to my sister Mary," said Joey.

"Do so, and tell her that you have employment; but do not say exactly
how. There are pens and paper in the drawer. Stop, I will find them
for you." Spikeman went to the drawer, and when taking out the pens and
paper, laid hold of some manuscript writing. "By the bye," said he
laughing, "I told you, Joey, that I had been a captain's clerk on board
the _Weasel_, a fourteen-gun brig; I wrote the captain's despatches for
him; and here are two of them of which I kept copies, that I might laugh
over them occasionally. I wrote all his letters; for he was no great
penman in the first place, and had a very great confusion of ideas in
the second. He certainly was indebted to me, as you will acknowledge,
when you hear what I read and tell you. I served under him, cruising in
the Channel; and I flatter myself that it was entirely through my
writings that he got his promot