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the other hand； even a small gain is pleasant； and the promise of it
in this instance was so surprising； that David felt his curiosity
awakened。 The scale dipped at last on the side of writing to the
lawyer； and； to be brief； the correspondence ended in an appointment
for a meeting between David and his eldest brother at Mr。 Strutt's；
the vague 〃something〃 having been defined as a legacy from his
father of eighty…two pounds； three shillings。
David； you know； had expected to be disinherited； and so he would
have been； if he had not； like some other indifferent sons； come of
excellent parents； whose conscience made them scrupulous where much
more highly…instructed people often feel themselves warranted in
following the bent of their indignation。 Good Mrs。 Faux could never
forget that she had brought this ill…conditioned son into the world
when he was in that entirely helpless state which excluded the
smallest choice on his part； and； somehow or other； she felt that
his going wrong would be his father's and mother's fault； if they
failed in one tittle of their parental duty。 Her notion of parental
duty was not of a high and subtle kind； but it included giving him
his due share of the family property； for when a man had got a
little honest money of his own； was he so likely to steal？ To cut
the delinquent son off with a shilling； was like delivering him over
to his evil propensities。 No； let the sum of twenty guineas which
he had stolen be deducted from his share； and then let the sum of
three guineas be put back from it； seeing that his mother had always
considered three of the twenty guineas as his； and； though he had
run away； and was； perhaps； gone across the sea； let the money be
left to him all the same； and be kept in reserve for his possible
return。 Mr。 Faux agreed to his wife's views； and made a codicil to
his will accordingly； in time to die with a clear conscience。 But
for some time his family thought it likely that David would never
reappear； and the eldest son； who had the charge of Jacob on his
hands； often thought it a little hard that David might perhaps be
dead； and yet； for want of certitude on that point； his legacy could
not fall to his legal heir。 But in this state of things the
opposite certitudenamely； that David was still alive and in
Englandseemed to be brought by the testimony of a neighbour； who；
having been on a journey to Cattelton； was pretty sure he had seen
David in a gig； with a stout man driving by his side。 He could
〃swear it was David；〃 though he could 〃give no account why； for he
had no marks on him； but no more had a white dog； and that didn't
hinder folks from knowing a white dog。〃 It was this incident which
had led to the advertisement。
The legacy was paid； of course； after a few preliminary disclosures
as to Mr。 David's actual position。 He begged to send his love to
his mother； and to say that he hoped to pay her a dutiful visit by
and by； but； at present； his business and near prospect of marriage
made it difficult for him to leave home。 His brother replied with
much frankness。
〃My mother may do as she likes about having you to see her； but； for
my part； I don't want to catch sight of you on the premises again。
When folks have taken a new name； they'd better keep to their new
'quinetance。〃
David pocketed the insult along with the eighty…two pounds three；
and travelled home again in some triumph at the ease of a
transaction which had enriched him to this extent。 He had no
intention of offending his brother by further claims on his
fraternal recognition； and relapsed with full contentment into the
character of Mr。 Edward Freely； the orphan； scion of a great but
reduced family； with an eccentric uncle in the West Indies。 （I have
already hinted that he had some acquaintance with imaginative
literature； and being of a practical turn； he had； you perceive；
applied even this form of knowledge to practical purposes。）
It was little more than a week after the return from his fruitful
journey； that the day of his marriage with Penny having been fixed；
it was agreed that Mrs。 Palfrey should overcome her reluctance to
move from home； and that she and her husband should bring their two
daughters to inspect little Penny's future abode and decide on the
new arrangements to be made for the reception of the bride。 Mr。
Freely meant her to have a house so pretty and comfortable that she
need not envy even a wool…factor's wife。 Of course； the upper room
over the shop was to be the best sitting…room； but also the parlour
behind the shop was to be made a suitable bower for the lovely
Penny； who would naturally wish to be near her husband； though Mr。
Freely declared his resolution never to allow HIS wife to wait in
the shop。 The decisions about the parlour furniture were left till
last； because the party was to take tea there； and； about five
o'clock； they were all seated there with the best muffins and
buttered buns before them； little Penny blushing and smiling； with
her 〃crop〃 in the best order； and a blue frock showing her little
white shoulders； while her opinion was being always asked and never
given。 She secretly wished to have a particular sort of chimney
ornaments； but she could not have brought herself to mention it。
Seated by the side of her yellow and rather withered lover； who；
though he had not reached his thirtieth year； had already crow's…
feet about his eyes； she was quite tremulous at the greatness of her
lot in being married to a man who had travelled so muchand before
her sister Letty！ The handsome Letitia looked rather proud and
contemptuous； thought her nature brother…in…law an odious person；
and was vexed with her father and mother for letting Penny marry
him。 Dear little Penny！ She certainly did look like a fresh white…
heart cherry going to be bitten off the stem by that lipless mouth。
Would no deliverer come to make a slip between that cherry and that
mouth without a lip？
〃Quite a family likeness between the admiral and you； Mr。 Freely；〃
observed Mrs。 Palfrey； who was looking at the family portrait for
the first time。 〃It's wonderful！ and only a grand…uncle。 Do you
feature the rest of your family； as you know of？〃
〃I can't say；〃 said Mr。 Freely； with a sigh。 〃My family have mostly
thought themselves too high to take any notice of me。〃
At this moment an extraordinary disturbance was heard in the shop；
as of a heavy animal stamping about and making angry noises； and
then of a glass vessel falling in shivers； while the voice of the
apprentice was heard calling 〃Master〃 in great alarm。
Mr。 Freely rose in anxious astonishment； and hastened into the shop；
followed by the four Palfreys； who made a group at the parlour…door；
transfixed with wonder at seeing a large man in a smock…frock； with
a pitchfork in his hand； rush up to Mr。 Freely and hug him； crying
out；〃Zavy； Zavy； b'other Zavy！〃
It was Jacob； and for some moments David lost all presence of mind。
He felt arrested for having stolen his mother's guineas。 He turned
cold； and trembled in his brother's grasp。
〃Why； how's this？〃 said Mr。 Palfrey； advancing from the door。 〃Who
is he？〃
Jacob supplied the answer by saying over and over again …
〃I'se Zacob； b'other Zacob。 Come 'o zee Zavy〃till hunger prompted
him to relax his grasp； and to seize a large raised pie； which he
lifted to his mouth。
By this time David's power of device had begun to return； but it was
a very hard task for his prudence to master his rage and hatred
towards poor Jacob。
〃I don't know who he is； he must be drunk；〃 he said； in a low tone
to Mr。 Palfrey。 〃But he's dangerous with that pitchfork。 He'll
never let it go。〃 Then checking himself on the point of betraying
too great an intimacy with Jacob's habits； he added 〃You watch him；
while I run for the constable。〃 And he hurried out of the shop。
〃Why； where do you come from； my man？〃 said Mr。 Palfrey； speaking to
Jacob in a conciliatory tone。 Jacob was eating his pie by large
mouthfuls； and looking round at the other good things in the shop；
while he embraced his pitchfork with his left arm； and laid his left
hand on some Bath buns。 He was in the rare position of a person who
recovers a long absent friend and finds him richer than ever in the
characteristics that won his heart。
〃I's Zacobb'other Zacob't home。 I love Zavyb'other Zavy；〃 he
said； as soon as Mr。 Palfrey had drawn his attention。 〃Zavy come
back from z' Indiesgot mother's zinnies。 Where's Zavy？〃 he added；
looking round and then turning to the others with a questioning air；
puzzled by David's disappearance。
〃It's very odd；〃 observed Mr。 Palfrey to his wife and daughters。
〃He seems to say Freely's his brother come back from th' Indies。〃
〃What a pleasant relation for us！〃 said Letitia； sarcastically。 〃I
think he's a good deal like Mr。 Freely。 He's got ju