eel, and all the furniture, books, etcetera, that are in my rooms at
Dudstone, the key of which is also inclosed. I should recommend you
going there and taking immediate possession, and as soon as I have
time, I shall write to the woman of the house, to inform her of the
contents of the memorandum; and I will also write to you, and let you
know how I get on. Of course you will now do as you please; at all
events, I have taught you a profession, and have given you the means
of following it. I only hope, if you do, that some day you may be
able to retire from business as successfully as I have done. You
will, of course, write to me occasionally, after you know where I am.
Depend upon it, there is no profession so near to that of a gentleman
as that of a travelling tinker.

"Yours ever truly, AUGUSTUS SPIKEMAN.

"NB. There is some money in the old place to pay the bill at the
cottage."

Our hero considered that he could not do better than follow the advice
of Spikeman. He first wrote a few lines to Mary, requesting that she
would send her answer to Dudstone; and then, having settled with the
hostess, he set off with his knife-grinder's wheel on his return home to
what were now his apartments. As he was not anxious to make money, he
did not delay on his road, and on the fifth day he found himself at the
door of the alehouse near to Dudstone, where he had before left the
wheel. Joey thought it advisable to do so now, telling the landlord
that Spikeman had requested him so to do; and as soon as it was dusk,
our hero proceeded to the town, and knocked at the door of the house in
which were Spikeman's apartments. He informed the landlady that
Spikeman would not in all probability return, and had sent him to take
possession, showing her the key. The dame was satisfied, and Joey went
upstairs. As soon as he had lighted the candle, and fairly installed
himself, our hero threw himself down on the sofa and began to reflect.
It is pleasant to have property of our own, and Joey never had had any
before; it was satisfactory to look at the furniture, bed, and books,
and say, "All this is _mine_." Joey felt this, as it is to be presumed
everybody would in the same position, and for some time he continued
looking round and round at his property. Having satisfied himself with
a review of it externally, he next proceeded to open all the drawers,
the chests, etcetera. There were many articles in th