“How’s this?—­you didn’t tramp, did you?” said he.

“No, sir, I rode both ways,” I replied; “but I knew the coachmen, and they gave me a cast for nothing.”

“Umph!—­well, that’s quite proper—­quite proper,” said he, considering a moment.  “Honesty’s the best policy.”

“Father always told me so, sir.”

“Your father’s right;—­there’s half-a-crown for you.”

I was delighted—­

“Quantum cedat virtutibus aurum;”

and I felt the truth of this line of Dr. Johnson’s, although I was then ignorant of it.  I met his nephew on the landing, but my fears had vanished.  We talked, however, of the departed bird, and he wished me, in the event of discovery, to declare that I had loaded and carried the gun, and that he would bear the rest of the blame.

This, however, strongly reminded me of the two Irish smugglers:—­one had a wooden leg, and carried the cask; while his comrade, who had the use of both his pins, bore him upon his shoulders, and, complaining of the weight, the other replied:—­“Och! thin, Paddy, what’s the bothuration; if you carry me, don’t I carry the whiskey, sure, and that’s fair and aqual!” and I at once declined any such Hibernian partnership in the affair, quite resolved that he should bear the whole onus upon his own shoulders.

CHAPTER, VII.—­The Cricket Match

“Out! so don’t fatigue yourself, I beg, sir.”

I soon discovered that my conduct had been reported in the most favourable colours to Mr. Timmis, and the consequence was that he began to take more notice of me.

“Andrew, what sort of a fist can you write?” demanded he.  I shewed him some caligraphic specimens.

“D___ me, if your y’s and your g’s hav’nt tails like skippingropes.  We
must have a little topping and tailing here, and I think you’ll do.  Here,
make out this account, and enter it in the book.”

He left me to do his bidding; and when he returned from the Stock-Exchange, inspected the performance, which I had executed with perspiring ardour.

I watched his countenance.   “That’ll do—­you’re a brick!   I’ll make a man
of you--d___ me.”

From this day forward I had the honour of keeping his books, and making out the accounts.  I was already a person of importance, and certainly some steps above the boys on the landing.

I did not, however, obtain any advance in my weekly wages; but on “good-days” got a douceur, varying from half a crown to half a sovereign! and looked upon myself as a made man.  Most of the receipts went to my father; whatever he returned to me I spent at a neighbouring book-stall, and in the course of twelve months I possessed a library of most amusing and instructive literature,—­Heaven knows! of a most miscellaneous character, for I had no one to guide me in the selection.