I know you are not very fond of
those things, I shall only assure you, that if you take on to be a
soldier, I will do the same; and then if we should both be slain, you
will not only have your own blood to answer for, but mine also: and
peradventure the lives of all those whom we shall kill in battle.
Therefore I pray you, consider whether you will sit down contented
with small things and share the fruits of my industry in peace, till
Providence shall send better tidings; or, by your despair, plunge
both our souls and bodies into everlasting perdition, which God of his
infinite mercy forbid!" I could not help smiling at this harangue, which
was delivered with great earnestness, the tears standing in his eyes all
the time, and promised to do nothing of that sort without his consent
and concurrence. He was much comforted with this declaration; and told
me in a few days he should receive a week's wages, which should be at my
service, but advised me in the meantime to go in quest of Jackson, and
recover, if possible, what he had borrowed of me. I accordingly trudged
about from one end of the town to the other, for several days, without
being able to learn anything certain concerning him: and, one day being
extremely hungry, and allured by the steams that regaled my nostrils
from a boiling cellar, I went down with an intention to gratify my
appetite with a twopennyworth of beef; when to my no small surprise
found Mr. Jackson sitting at dinner with a footman. He no sooner
perceived me than he got up and shook me by the hands saying, he was
glad to see me, for he intended to have called at my lodgings in the
afternoon. I was so well pleased at this rencounter and the apologies
he made for not keeping his appointment, that I forgot my resentment,
and sat down to dinner, with the happy expectation of not only
recovering my own money before we should part, but also of reaping the
benefit of his promise to lend me wherewithal to pass examination; and
this hope my sanguine complexion suggested, though the account Thompson
gave me of him ought to have moderated my expectation.

When we had feasted sumptuously, he took his leave of the footman, and
adjourned with me to an ale-house hard by, where, after shaking me by
the hand again, he began thus: "I suppose you think me a sad dog, Mr.
Random, and I do confess that appearances are against me. But I dare say
you will forgive me when I tell you, my not coming at the time appointed
was