“Japhet,” said Melchior, “there
is yet some money due to you for our last excursion—(this
was true,)—here it is —you and
Timothy keep but one purse, I am aware. Good-bye,
and may you prosper!”
We shook hands with Nattee and Melchior. Fleta
went up to the former, and crossing her arms, bent
her head. Nattee kissed the child, and led her
to Melchior. He stooped down, kissed her on the
forehead, and I perceived a sign of strongly suppressed
emotion as he did so. Our intended routes lay
in a different direction, and when both parties had
arrived to either verge of the common, we waved our
hands as a last farewell, and resumed our paths again.
Fleta burst into tears as she turned away from her
former guardians.
A Cabinet Council—I
resolve to set up as a gentleman, having as
legitimate pretensions
to the rank of one as many others.
I led the little sobbing girl by the hand, and we
proceeded for some time in silence. It was not
until we gained the high road that Timothy interrupted
my reverie, by observing, “Japhet, have you at
all made up your mind what you shall do?”
“I have been reflecting, Timothy. We have
lost a great deal of time. The original intention
with which I left London has been almost forgotten;
but it must be so no longer. I now have resolved
that as soon as I have placed this poor little girl
in safety, that I will prosecute my search, and never
be diverted from it.”
“I cannot agree with you that we have lost time,
Japhet; we had very little money when we started upon
our expedition, and now we have sufficient to enable
you to prosecute your plans for a long time. The
question is, in what direction? We quitted London,
and travelled west, in imitation, as we thought, of
the wise men. With all deference, in my
opinion, it was like two fools.”
“I have been thinking upon that point also,
Tim, and I agree with you. I expect, from several
causes, which you know as well as I do, to find my
father among the higher classes of society; and the
path we took when we started has led us into the very
lowest. It appears to me that we cannot do better
than retrace our steps. We have the means now
to appear as gentlemen, and to mix in good company,
and London is the very best place for us to repair
to.”
“That is precisely my opinion, Japhet, with
one single exception, which I will mention to you;
but first tell me, have you calculated what our joint
purses may amount to? It must be a very considerable
sum.”
I had not examined the packet in which was the money
which Melchior had given me at parting. I now
opened it, and found, to my surprise, that there were
Bank notes to the amount of one hundred pounds.
I felt that he had given me this large sum that it
might assist me in Fleta’s expenses. “With
this sum,” said I, “I cannot have much
less than two hundred and fifty pounds.”
