be sufficient for my friend in the city. Ha'n't you no such relations,
Mr. George ? "
Mr. George, still composedly smoking, replies, " If I had, I shouldn't
trouble them. I have been trouble enough to my belongings in my day.
It ma// be a very good sort of penitence in a vagabond, who has wasted the
best time of his life, to go back then to decent people that he never was
a credit to, and live upon them ; but it's not my sort. The best kind of
amends then, for havnig gone away, is to keep away, in my opinion."
".But, natural alfection, Mr. George," hints Grandfather Smallweed.
"Tor two good names, hey? " says Mr. George, shaking his head, and
still composedly smoking. " No. That's not my sort, either."
Grandfather Smallweed has been gradually sliding down in his chair
since his last adjustment, and is now a bundle of clothes, with a voice in
it calling for Judy. That Houri appearing, shakes him up in the usual
manner, and is charged by the old gentleman to remain near him. For
he seems chary of putting his visitor to the trouble of repeating his late
attentions.
" Ha ! " he observes, when he is in trim again. " If you could have
traced out the Captain, Mr. George, it would have been the making of
you. If, when you hrst came here, in consequence of our advertisements
in the newspapers — when I say ' our,' I'm alluding to the advertisements
of my friend in the city, and one or two others who embark their
capital in the same way, and are so friendly towards me as sometimes to
give me a lift with my little pittance — if, at that time, you could have
helped us, Mr. George, it w^ould have been the making of you."
" I was willing enough to be ' made,' as you call it," says Mr. George,
smoking not quite so placidly as before, for since the entrance of Judy he
lias been in some measure disturbed by a fascination, not of the admiring
kind, which obliges him to look at her as she stands by her grandfather's
chair ; " but, on the whole, I am glad I wasn't now."
" Why, Mr. George ? In the name of — of Brimstone, wdiy ? " says
Grandfather Smallweed, wdth a plain appearance of exasperation.
(Brimstone apparently suggested by his eye lighting on Mrs. Smallweed
in her slumber).
" For two reasons, comrade."
" And what two reasons, Mr. George ? In the name of the "
" Of our friend in tlie city ? " suggests Mr. George, composedly
drinking.
- ' Ay, if you like. What two reasons ? "
" In the'iirst place," returns Mr. George ; but still looking at Judy, as if, she being so old and so like her grandfather, it is indifferent which of the two he addresses ; " you gentlemen took me in. You advertised that Mr. Hawdon (Captain Hawdon, if you hold to the saying, Once a captain always a captain) was to hear of something to his advantage." " Well? " returns the old man, shrilly and sharply. •' Well ! " says Mr. George, smoking on. " It wouldn't have been much to his advantage to have been clapped into prison by the whole bill and judgment trade of London." " How do you know that ? Some of his rich relations might have paid his debts, or compounded for 'em. Besides, he had taken its in. He owed us immense sums, all round. I woidd sooner have strangled him
