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the bundle higher out of reach。 David； with an inward groan；
changed his tactics； and walked on as fast as he could。 It was not
safe to linger。 Jacob would get tired of following him； or； at all
events； could be eluded。 If they could once get to the distant
highroad； a coach would overtake them； David would mount it； having
previously by some ingenious means secured his bundle； and then
Jacob might howl and flourish his pitchfork as much as he liked。
Meanwhile he was under the fatal necessity of being very kind to
this ogre； and of providing a large breakfast for him when they
stopped at a roadside inn。 It was already three hours since they
had started； and David was tired。 Would no coach be coming up soon？
he inquired。 No coach for the next two hours。 But there was a
carrier's cart to come immediately； on its way to the next town。 If
he could slip out； even leaving his bundle behind； and get into the
cart without Jacob！ But there was a new obstacle。 Jacob had
recently discovered a remnant of sugar…candy in one of his brother's
tail…pockets； and； since then； had cautiously kept his hold on that
limb of the garment； perhaps with an expectation that there would be
a further development of sugar…candy after a longer or shorter
interval。 Now every one who has worn a coat will understand the
sensibilities that must keep a man from starting away in a hurry
when there is a grasp on his coat…tail。 David looked forward to
being well received among strangers； but it might make a difference
if he had only one tail to his coat。
He felt himself in a cold perspiration。 He could walk no more： he
must get into the cart and let Jacob get in with him。 Presently a
cheering idea occurred to him： after so large a breakfast； Jacob
would be sure to go to sleep in the cart； you see at once that David
meant to seize his bundle； jump out； and be free。 His expectation
was partly fulfilled： Jacob did go to sleep in the cart； but it was
in a peculiar attitudeit was with his arms tightly fastened round
his dear brother's body； and if ever David attempted to move； the
grasp tightened with the force of an affectionate boa…constrictor。
〃Th' innicent's fond on you；〃 observed the carrier； thinking that
David was probably an amiable brother； and wishing to pay him a
compliment。
David groaned。 The ways of thieving were not ways of pleasantness。
Oh； why had he an idiot brother？ Oh； why； in general； was the world
so constituted that a man could not take his mother's guineas
comfortably？ David became grimly speculative。
Copious dinner at noon for Jacob； but little dinner； because little
appetite； for David。 Instead of eating； he plied Jacob with beer；
for through this liberality he descried a hope。 Jacob fell into a
dead sleep； at last； without having his arms round David； who paid
the reckoning； took his bundle； and walked off。 In another half…
hour he was on the coach on his way to Liverpool； smiling the smile
of the triumphant wicked。 He was rid of Jacobhe was bound for the
Indies； where a gullible princess awaited him。 He would never steal
any more； but there would be no need； he would show himself so
deserving； that people would make him presents freely。 He must give
up the notion of his father's legacy； but it was not likely he would
ever want that trifle； and even if he didwhy； it was a
compensation to think that in being for ever divided from his family
he was divided from Jacob； more terrible than Gorgon or Demogorgon
to David's timid green eyes。 Thank heaven； he should never see
Jacob any more！
CHAPTER II
It was nearly six years after the departure of Mr。 David Faux for
the West Indies； that the vacant shop in the marketplace at
Grimworth was understood to have been let to the stranger with a
sallow complexion and a buff cravat； whose first appearance had
caused some excitement in the bar of the Woolpack； where he had
called to wait for the coach。
Grimworth； to a discerning eye； was a good place to set up
shopkeeping in。 There was no competition in it at present； the
Church…people had their own grocer and draper； the Dissenters had
theirs； and the two or three butchers found a ready market for their
joints without strict reference to religious persuasionexcept that
the rector's wife had given a general order for the veal sweet…
breads and the mutton kidneys； while Mr。 Rodd； the Baptist minister；
had requested that； so far as was compatible with the fair
accommodation of other customers； the sheep's trotters might be
reserved for him。 And it was likely to be a growing place； for the
trustees of Mr。 Zephaniah Crypt's Charity； under the stimulus of a
late visitation by commissioners； were beginning to apply long…
accumulating funds to the rebuilding of the Yellow Coat School；
which was henceforth to be carried forward on a greatly…extended
scale； the testator having left no restrictions concerning the
curriculum； but only concerning the coat。
The shopkeepers at Grimworth were by no means unanimous as to the
advantages promised by this prospect of increased population and
trading； being substantial men； who liked doing a quiet business in
which they were sure of their customers； and could calculate their
returns to a nicety。 Hitherto； it had been held a point of honour
by the families in Grimworth parish； to buy their sugar and their
flannel at the shop where their fathers and mothers had bought
before them； but； if newcomers were to bring in the system of neck…
and…neck trading； and solicit feminine eyes by gown…pieces laid in
fan…like folds； and surmounted by artificial flowers； giving them a
factitious charm （for on what human figure would a gown sit like a
fan； or what female head was like a bunch of China…asters？）； or； if
new grocers were to fill their windows with mountains of currants
and sugar； made seductive by contrast and tickets；what security
was there for Grimworth； that a vagrant spirit in shopping； once
introduced； would not in the end carry the most important families
to the larger market town of Cattleton； where； business being done
on a system of small profits and quick returns； the fashions were of
the freshest； and goods of all kinds might be bought at an
advantage？
With this view of the times predominant among the tradespeople at
Grimworth； their uncertainty concerning the nature of the business
which the sallow…complexioned stranger was about to set up in the
vacant shop； naturally gave some additional strength to the fears of
the less sanguine。 If he was going to sell drapery； it was probable
that a pale…faced fellow like that would deal in showy and inferior
articlesprinted cottons and muslins which would leave their dye in
the wash…tub； jobbed linen full of knots； and flannel that would
soon look like gauze。 If grocery； then it was to be hoped that no
mother of a family would trust the teas of an untried grocer。 Such
things had been known in some parishes as tradesmen going about
canvassing for custom with cards in their pockets： when people came
from nobody knew where； there was no knowing what they might do。 It
was a thousand pities that Mr。 Moffat； the auctioneer and broker；
had died without leaving anybody to follow him in the business； and
Mrs。 Cleve's trustee ought to have known better than to let a shop
to a stranger。 Even the discovery that ovens were being put up on
the premises； and that the shop was； in fact； being fitted up for a
confectioner and pastry…cook's business； hitherto unknown in
Grimworth； did not quite suffice to turn the scale in the newcomer's
favour； though the landlady at the Woolpack defended him warmly；
said he seemed to be a very clever young man； and from what she
could make out； came of a very good family； indeed； was most likely
a good many people's betters。
It certainly made a blaze of light and colour； almost as if a
rainbow had suddenly descended into the marketplace； when； one fine
morning； the shutters were taken down from the new shop； and the two
windows displayed their decorations。 On one side； there were the
variegated tints of collared and marbled meats； set off by bright
green leaves； the pale brown of glazed pies； the rich tones of
sauces and bottled fruits enclosed in their veil of glass
altogether a sight to bring tears into the eyes of a Dutch painter；
and on the other； there was a predominance of the more delicate hues
of pink； and white； and yellow； and buff； in the abundant lozenges；
candies； sweet biscuits and icings； which to the eyes of a bilious
person might easily have been blended into a faery landscape in
Turner's latest style。 What a sight to dawn upon the eyes of
Grimworth children！ They almost forgot to go to their dinner that
day； their appetites being preoccupied with imaginary sugar…plums；
and I think even Punch； setting up his tabernacle in the market…
place； would not have su