“No, Tim, I do not; but I am gaining a knowledge
of the world which will be very useful to me when
I recommence the search; and what is more, I am saving
a great deal of money to enable me to prosecute it.”
“What did Melchior give you after we left?”
“Twenty guineas, which, with what I had before,
make more than fifty.”
“And he gave me ten, which makes twenty, with
what I had before. Seventy pounds is a large
sum.”
“Yes, but soon spent, Tim. We must work
a little longer. Besides, I cannot leave that
little girl—she was never intended for a
rope-dancer.”
“I am glad to hear you say that, Japhet, for
I feel as you do—she shall share our fortunes.”
“A glorious prospect truly,” replied I,
laughing; “but never mind, it would be better
than her remaining here. But how are we to manage
that?”
“Aye! that’s the rub; but there is time
enough to think about it when we intend to quit our
present occupation.”
“Well, I understand from Melchior that we are
to start in a few days.”
“What is it to be, Japhet?”
“Oh! we shall be at home—we are to
cure all diseases under the sun. To-morrow we
commence making pills, so we may think ourselves with
Mr Cophagus again.”
“Well, I do think we shall have some fun; but
I hope Melchior won’t make me take my own pills
to prove their good qualities—that will
be no joke.”
“O no, Num is kept on purpose for that.
What else is the fool good for?”
The next week was employed as we anticipated.
Boxes of pills of every size, neatly labelled, bottles
of various mixtures, chiefly stimulants, were corked
and packed up. Powders of anything were
put in papers; but, at all events, there was nothing
hurtful in them. All was ready, and accompanied
by Num (Jumbo and Fleta being left at home) we set
off, Melchior assuming the dress in which we had first
met him in the wagon, and altering his appearance
so completely, that he would have been taken for at
least sixty years old. We now travelled on foot
with our dresses in bundles, each carrying his own,
except Num, who was loaded like a pack-horse, and
made sore lamentations:
“Can’t you carry some of this?”
“No,” replied I, “it is your own
luggage; every one must carry his own.”
“Well, I never felt my spangled dress so heavy
before. Where are we going?”
“Only a little way,” replied Timothy,
“and then you will have nothing more to do.”
“I don’t know that. When master puts
on that dress, I have to swallow little things till
I’m sick.”
“It’s all good for your health, Num.”
“I’m very well, I thank’e,”
replied the poor fellow; “but I’m very
hot and very tired.”
