“O nothing! don’t say I have been crying—but
I cannot bear it—so many people looking
at me. Don’t say a word to Melchior—I
won’t cry any more.”
It is very easy to humbug
those who are so eager to be humbugged as
people are in this world
of humbug—We show ourselves excessively
disinterested, which
astonishes everybody.
I kissed and consoled her; she threw her arm round
my neck, and remained there with her face hid for
some time. We then joined the others at supper.
Melchior was much pleased with our success, and highly
praised the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he
pronounced was, for the first attempt, far beyond
his expectations.
We continued to astonish all the good people of ——
for five days, when we discovered the indubitable
fact, that there was no more money to be extracted
from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual
clothes and smock frocks, and with our bundles in
our hands, set off for another market town, about
fifteen miles distant. There we were equally
successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having
proved such a powerful acquisition to his troop:
but not to dwell too long upon one subject, I shall
inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks,
during which we were very well received, we once more
returned to the camp, which had located within five
miles of our last scene of action. Every one
was content—we were all glad to get back
and rest from our labours. Melchior was pleased
with his profits, poor little Fleta overjoyed to be
once more in the seclusion of her tent, and Nattee
very glad to hear of our good fortune, and to see
her husband. Timothy and I had already proved
ourselves so useful, that Melchior treated us with
the greatest friendship and confidence—and
he made us a present out of the gains, for our exertions;
to me he gave ten, and to Timothy five, pounds.
“There, Japhet, had you hired yourself I should
not have paid you more than seven shillings per week,
finding you in food; but you must acknowledge that
for six weeks that is not bad pay. However, your
earnings will depend upon our success, and I rather
think that we shall make a much better thing of it
when next we start, which will be in about a fortnight;
but we have some arrangements to make. Has Timothy
a good memory?”
“I think he has.”
“That is well. I told you before that we
are to try the ’Wise Man,’—but
first we must have Nattee in play. To-morrow we
will start for ——,” mentioning
a small quiet town about four miles off.
We did so, early the next morning, and arrived about
noon, pitching our tents on the common, not far from
the town; but in this instance we left all the rest
of our gang behind. Melchior’s own party
and his two tents were all that were brought by the
donkeys.
Melchior and I, dressed as countrymen, went into the
town at dusk, and entered a respectable sort of inn,
taking our seats at one of the tables in the tap-room,
and, as we had already planned, after we had called
for beer, commenced a conversation in the hearing
of the others who were sitting drinking and smoking.
