are to be found ready to carry anything or to go anywhere. The lower
class of Chinese frequently act as pedlars; and we met several of them
with two wicker cases slung on a bamboo yoke, selling drapery, or fruit,
and other eatables; sometimes with a portable stove to cook them, or
keep them hot.

On the following day I stopped one of these pedlars, who had, besides
his cutlery, a display of ordinary jewels and female ornaments to sell.
I was induced to do so, as I wished to purchase some trifle to give to
little Maria as a parting gift. While I was looking over his stores, my
eye fell on a brooch which was evidently of English workmanship. It
struck me that it would answer my purpose by serving to fasten my young
friend's shawl, so I took it up to examine it more carefully. As I held
it in my hand, I could not help fancying that I had seen it before. The
idea grew stronger as I dwelt on it--my memory rushed back in an instant
to the days of my childhood, and scenes long forgotten rose up before my
eyes--my feelings grew intense--my heart beat quick--I gasped for
breath. Yes, I was certain that very brooch which I held in my hand I
had remembered since my infancy. Often had I gazed at it with delight.
It was a cameo of exquisite workmanship, representing the three Graces,
and had belonged to my kind friend, Mrs Clayton. I used to call one of
the figures Mrs Clayton, another Ellen Barrow, and the third I said
must be my mother. The pedlar's eyes opened wider than any Chinese eyes
were opened before, as he gazed at me with astonishment. He began to
think that the jewel was some charm which had bewitched me, or that I
was going into a fit. He, of course, could not guess the cause of my
agitation; and I recovered my presence of mind in sufficient time to
avoid telling him. I found that he set but slight value on the
ornament, and infinitely preferred to it some glittering stores with gay
tints. I looked over the remainder of his stores, keeping my eye
constantly on the brooch to see that he did not remove it; but I did not
find anything else which I could recognise. I then bought a bracelet
for Maria, and a ring of trifling value, and next asked him carelessly
for how much he would sell the brooch in case I wished to buy it. My
coolness made him lower the price from what, when he first discovered
the curiosity with which I regarded it, he intended to ask. He demanded
a very moderate sum, which I paid him, and