he-bye, Timothy, here have I been, more than so many years out of
the Foundling Hospital, and have never yet inquired if any one has ever
been to reclaim me."

"Very true; and I think I'll step myself to the workhouse, at St
Bridget's, and ask whether any one has asked about me," replied Timothy,
with a grin.

"There is another thing that I have neglected," observed I, "which is,
to inquire at the address in Coleman Street, if there is any letter from
Melchior."

"I have often thought of him," replied Timothy. "I wonder who he can
be--there is another mystery there. I wonder whether we shall ever fall
in with him again--and Nattee, too?"

"There's no saying, Timothy. I wonder where that poor fool, Philotas,
and our friend Jumbo, are now?"

The remembrance of the two last personages made us both burst out a
laughing.

"Timothy, I've been reflecting that my intimacy with poor Carbonnell has
rather hindered than assisted me in my search. He found me with a good
appearance, and he has moulded me into a gentleman, so far as manners
and appearance are concerned; but the constant vortex in which I have
been whirled in his company, has prevented me from doing anything. His
melancholy death has perhaps been fortunate for me. It has left me more
independent in circumstances, and more free. I must now really set to in
earnest."

"I beg your pardon, Japhet, but did not you say the same when we first
set off on our travels, and yet remain more than a year with the
gipsies? Did not you make the same resolution when we arrived in town,
with our pockets full of money, and yet, once into fashionable society,
think but little, and occasionally, of it? Now you make the same
resolution, and how long will you keep it?"

"Nay, Timothy, that remark is hardly fair; you know that the subject is
ever in my thoughts."

"In your thoughts, I grant, very frequently; but you have still been led
away from the search."

"I grant it, but I presume that arises from not knowing how to proceed.
I have a skein to unravel, and cannot find out an end to commence with."

"I always thought people commenced with the beginning," replied Tim,
laughing.

"At all events, I will now try back, and face the old lawyer. Do you
call at Coleman Street, Tim, and at St Bridget's also, if you please."

"As for St Bridget's, I'm in no particular hurry about my mother; if I
stumble upon her I may pick her up, but I never make diligent search
after what, in ev