what they talk
about. I like it better than the wharf, anyhow. I'll go with you and
show you things. Is Mr. Gaudylock coming?"

"No," replied Adam. "I'll finish my pipe, and take a look at the ship
down there, and then I'll meet a friend at the Indian Queen. Be off with
you both! Vinie will stay and talk to me."

"Yeth, thir," said Vinie, her brown arm deep in the beaded pouch.

The two lads left behind the scarlet-clad porch, the hunter and Vinie,
the little green yard and the broken gate. "Where first? demanded Tom.

"Where is the best place in Richmond to buy books?"

Young Mocket considered. "There's a shop near the bridge. What do you
want with books?"

"I want to read them. We'll go to the bridge first."

Tom hung back. "Don't you want to see the brig from Barbadoes? She's a
beauty. There's a schooner from Baltimore, too, at the Rock Landing. You
won't? Then let's go over to Widewilt's Island. Well, they whipped a man
this morning and he's in the pillory now, down by the market. Let's go
look at him.--Pshaw! what's the use of books! Don't you want to see the
Guard turn out at noon, and hear the trumpet blow? Well, come on to the
bridge! Nancy, the apple-woman, is there too."

The shop near the bridge to which they resorted was dark and low, but
learning was spread upon its counter, and a benevolent dragon of
knowledge in horn spectacles ran over the wares for Lewis Rand. "De Jure
Maritimo, six shillings eightpence, my lad. Burnet's History and
Demosthenes' Orations, two crowns, Mr. Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire, a great book and dear! Common Sense--and that's Tom
Paine's, and you may have it for two pistareens."

The boy shook his head. "I want a law-book."

The genie put forth The Principles of Equity, and named the price.

"'Tis too dear."

A gentleman lounging against the counter closed the book into which he
had been dipping, and drew nearer to the would-be purchaser.

"Equity is an expensive commodity, my lad," he said kindly. "How much
law have you read?"

"I have read The Law of Virginia," answered the boy. "I borrowed it. I
worked a week for Mr. Douglas, and read The Law of Nations rest-hours.
Mrs. Selden, on the Three-Notched Road, gave me The Federalist. Are you
a lawyer, sir?"

The gentleman laughed, and the genie behind the counter laughed. Young
Mocket plucked Lewis Rand by the sleeve, but the latter was intent upon
the personage before him and did not heed.

"Yes,"