480 The Tailor of Brummelton. 



There never had been any thing particularly thriving in the aspect 

 of old Slops, so Andrew could have guessed but little from mere looks. 

 He said nothing, therefore, in reply ; but counting down to the old man 

 his day's wages, and the like sum for the morrow, to ensure, as he ob- 

 served with a smile, his services for the next day, he bid Jenkin to 

 cheer up, and wait the turning of the tide. 



Slops was subdued by the money in advance. This was a kind- 

 ness he could not comprehend. It was more than human. He was 

 weak and ill, or he could have found in his heart playfully to chide at 

 the young spendthrift. But he took up the money and his hat, and 

 slowly moved towards the door. 



" There is no small degree of malicious craft," says Sterne, " in 

 fixing upon a season to give a mark of enmity and ill-will : a word 

 which at one time would make no impression, at another time wounds 

 the heart ; and, like a shaft flying with the wind, pierces deep, which 

 with its own natural force would scarce have reached the object 

 aimed at." Think not we have to record any such malicious craft on 

 the part of Holecotfi. His willingness was this, he chose his time 

 when the " word," the " look" of kindness were likely to heal the 

 wounds of a saddened spirit. He observed his old friend making for 

 the door so, springing towards him, and lifting to him the latch, ob- 

 served, " Well, then, father-in-law, we shall meet again?" 



"He calls me father-in-law still," thought Jenkin. He did not 

 reply, however, but, laying his hands on Andrew's shoulder for half a 

 minu'e, he acknowledged in silence this kind appeal on the part of his 

 apprentice. Then putting his stick to the ground with a bolder stroke 

 than usual, and pushing forwards with strides twice the length of his 

 ordinary efforts, the reformed tailor reached home before he well 

 knew where he was. 



The sequel may easily be imagined. On Lucy's return home her 

 marriage with Andrew Holecote met with no further obstacle from 

 her father ; and the same day that saw this union of affection witnessed 

 an union of interests between old Jenkin Slops and the young bride- 

 groom. They thenceforward traded under one firm, and though the 

 oldjman was outwitted by the younger and more wealthy partner, he 

 was no sufferer in the long run, for fashions change. By degrees 

 the truth came out about the Danish deception, and then every body 

 flocked to the true faith, for which the oldman, as we have seen, 

 had been a pilgrim to the metropolis. Lucy lost no time in bringing 

 new partners into the hou se, to the rare delight of the " heads'' of 

 the same; and for many years the house of Slops and Holecote 

 enjoyed a Stultzian fortune and reputation in all the country round.* 



EGOMET. 



* Should the reader entertain any doubts as to the truth of this little history, he 

 may read the following morceau from Horace Walpole, which proves one of two things, 

 either that that philosophical fripier must have been familiar with it, or that we bor- 

 rowed the idea from him, chose incroyable ! " Remember, every body that comes from 

 abroad is cense to come from France ; and whatever they wear at their first appearance 

 immediately prows the fashion. Now if, as is very likely, you should through inadver- 

 tence change hats with a master of a Dutch smack, O * * * will be upon the watch, will 

 conclude you took your pattern from M- de Bareil, and in a week's time we shall all be 

 equipped like Dutch skippers. You see I speak very disinterestedly ; for, as I never 

 w ear a hat myself, it is indifferent to me what sort of hat I don't wear.'' Letter to the 

 f-jon. H. S. Conway. 



