A Rogue's Life

t. His answer to my letter contained a quotation from Shakespeare on the subject of thankless children, but no remittance of money. After that, my only course was to employ a lawyer and be

n then, my faith in myself and in

would not so much as look at me without a frown; and now, when I was a scamp, in prison, he mercifully and fraternally came to condole with me on my misfortunes. A little dexterous questioni

ce of my father or my mother; but he left to my sister (always supposed to be his favorite in the family) a most extraordinary legacy of possible pi

feel happy if his legacy were instrumental in reviving the dormant interest of only one member of Doctor Softly's family in the fortunes of the hopeful young gentleman who had run away from home. My esteemed uncle evidently felt that he could not in common decency avoid doing something for hi

acy made dependent on my outliving my grandmother! This was diver

the strength of the vital principle in Lady Malkinshaw, and the broken condition of my own constitution; but he solemnly abstained from understanding one of them. He resolutely kept up appearances in the very face of detection; not the faintest shade of red came over his wicked old mahogany face as he told me how shocked he and his wife were at my present position, and how anxiou

was going next, or what vital risks I was likely to run on the recovery of my freedom, but to congratulate me, and

aw?" I asked, when my grat

so yellow that if we had been in Jamaica I should have said it was a case of death in twelve hours. I respectfully endeavored to impress upon her ladyship the necessity of keeping the fu

ever would allow any one to help her; and could not be brought to believe that she was as blind as a mole, and as rickety on her legs as a child of a year old. Now you have encouraged her to take to walking, she will be more obstinate than ever, and is sure to tumble down daily, out of do

explanations. Five miles here by a roundabout way is only half my daily allowance of walking exercise; five miles back by a roundabout way remain to be now accomplished. So glad to see you at liberty again! Mind

or the sake of his health, and away went I to

in the same style. During the time of my imprisonment, a new caricaturist had started, with a manner of his own; he had already formed a new school, and the fickle public were all running together a

to be merely on my way to a change of profession. As destiny ordered it, I was also on my way to the woman

isible behind a thick veil) that instantly stopped me as I passed her. I looked back and hesitated. Her figure was the perfection

ed her pace. Reaching the westward end of the Strand

aracter you will say-but remember, all men are fools when they first fall in love. After a little while I recovered the use of my senses. The shop was at the corner of a side street, leading to the market, since removed to make room for the railway. "There's a b

iciently recovered my composure to see poverty staring me in the face, and to understand th

trike the right moral balance between the vagabond work which is boldly published, and the vagabond work which is reserved for private circulation only, that I did not feel justifi

m now. Turn portrait-painter. You shall have the use of this study three days in the week, for ten shillings a week-sleeping on the hearth-rug included, if you like. Get your paints, rouse up your friends, set to work at once. Drawin

and left him for th

pped, shook hands with me affectionately, and asked where I was going. A wonderful

tterbury; "her ladyship tumbled

allow me to co

thes for the wash at the foot of the stairs, while she went to answer the door. Falling headlong from the landing, her ladyship pitched (pardon me the expression)-pitched into the very middle of

emerara," I said,

laimed Mr. Batt

y my hand at portrait-painting-the thing of all others that I am naturally fittest for. But I have nobody to start me; no sitter to give me a first chance; nothing in my pocket but three-and-sixpence; and nothing

in that dreadfully unprincipled manner-don't, I implore, I insist! You have plenty of friends-you hav

ter?' I inquired, with a

specially to a member of the family, I suppose your terms will be moderate. Small beginning

down to your waistcoat, f

anted to run away. He had five thousand a year, but he contrived to took, at

with?" he said, walking after me. "I should h

in," said I, with mournful dignity. "Farewell

ere are you going now? To the colorman? He doesn't live in the Strand, I hope-or near one of the bridges. Think of Annabella, think of the family, think of the fifty pounds-an

I believe, the only serious attack of mental distress th

rom my first sitter depending whimsically on the life of my grandmother. If you care to know how Lady Malkinshaw's health got on