ll not be denied, Mr Newland; and if you feel any delicacy on the
subject, you may take it as a loan, to be repaid when you find it
convenient. Do not, for a moment, consider that it is given to you
because you possess an important secret, for I will trust entirely to
your honour on that score."

"Indeed, my lord," replied I, "your kindness overwhelms me, and I feel
as if, in you, I had already _almost_ found a father. Excuse me, my
lord, but did your lordship ever--ever--"

"I know what you would say, my poor fellow: no, I never did. I never was
blessed with children. Had I been, I should not have felt that I was
disgraced by having one resembling you. Allow me to entreat you, Mr
Newland, that you do not suffer the mystery of your birth to weigh so
heavily on your mind; and now I wish you good morning, and if you think
I can be useful to you, I beg that you will not fail to let me know."

"May Heaven pour down blessings on your head," replied I, kissing
respectfully his lordship's hand; "and may my father, when I find him,
be as like unto you as possible." I made my obeisance, and quitted the
house.

Chapter XXIII

The Major prevents the landlord from imposing on me, but I gain
nothing by his interference--For economical reasons I agree to live
with him that he may live on me.

I returned to the hotel, for my mind had been much agitated, and I
wished for quiet, and the friendship of Timothy. As soon as I arrived I
told him all that had passed.

"Indeed," replied Timothy, "things do now wear a pleasant aspect; for I
am afraid, that without that thousand, we could not have carried on for
a fortnight longer. The bill here is very heavy, and I'm sure the
landlord wishes to see the colour of his money."

"How much do you think we have left? It is high time, Timothy, that we
now make up our accounts, and arrange some plans for the future,"
replied I. "I have paid the jeweller and the tailor, by the advice of
the Major, who says, that you should always pay your _first bills_ as
soon as possible, and all your subsequent bills as late as possible; and
if put off _sine die_, so much the better. In fact, I owe very little
now, but the bill here, I will send for it to-night."

Here we were interrupted by the entrance of the landlord. "O Mr Wallace,
you are the very person I wished to see; let me have my bill, if you
please."

"It's not of the least consequence, sir," replied he; "but if you wish