remained in the stables, his dogs in the kennel, and every
one intimated that Mr Austin was labouring under a disease from which
he would not recover. At first this was extremely irksome to Austin,
and he was very impatient; but gradually he became reconciled, and even
preferred his sedentary and solitary existence. Books were his chief
amusement, but nothing could minister to a mind diseased, or drive out
the rooted memory of the brain. Austin became more morose and
misanthropic every day, and at last would permit no one to come near him
but his valet and his wife.

Such was the position of his parents, when Joey was proceeding to their
abode.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

OUR HERO FALLS IN WITH AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE, AND IS NOT VERY MUCH
DELIGHTED.

We left our hero rolling his knife-grinder's wheel towards his father's
house. It must be confessed that he did it very unwillingly. He was
never very fond of it at any time; but, since he had taken possession of
Spikeman's property, and had received from Mary the intelligence that he
was worth 350 pounds more, he had taken a positive aversion to it. It
retarded his movements, and it was hard work when he had not to get his
livelihood by it. More than once he thought of rolling it into a
horsepond, and leaving it below low-water mark; but then he thought it a
sort of protection against inquiry, and against assault, for it told of
poverty and honest employment; so Joey rolled on, but not with any
feelings of regard towards his companion.

How many castles did our hero build as he went along the road! The sum
of money left to him appeared to be enormous. He planned and planned
again; and, like most people, at the close of the day, he was just as
undetermined as at the commencement. Nevertheless, he was very happy,
as people always are, in anticipation; unfortunately, more so than when
they grasp what they have been seeking. Time rolled on, as well as the
grindstone, and at last Joey found himself at the ale-house where he and
Mary had put up previously to her obtaining a situation at the Hall. He
immediately wrote a letter to her, acquainting her with his arrival. He
would have taken the letter himself, only he recollected the treatment
he had received, and found another messenger in the butcher's boy, who
was going up to the Hall for orders. The answer returned by the same
party was, that Mary would come down and see him that evening. When
Mary came down Joey