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 you wanted a little country air; where have you been?"

"I have been amongst the Highlands," said I, "and I have brought back health, happiness, and a wife."

"Ah! that was the trouble, was it?" said he; "I feared it was a love affair, but you are such a shy fellow that one cannot come at what is passing in your mind."

"Well, my dear sir, you will not find that the case any longer," said I, "I shall now carry my heart in my hand."

"That is," said Mr. Blagge, "you think you will; but excepting that your face will be beaming with pleasure as it does now, no one will be the better of what is going on within; I know you very well now; you will be more reserved than ever."

I laughed at this, for I was in fact at that very moment grudging the time I spent in this little friendly talk, for I wanted to be thinking of my wife.

"Oh, by the way," said Mr. Blagge, "there is a letter for you from your old master, Mr. Bartlett; it came enclosed to me, and he requested that it might be given to you immediately. Now as you did not let me know where you were going, I could not send it to you. I suspect the good gentleman wants your services: but you must not leave me now, Mr. Parr, for I am almost beside myself with business."

I assured him that I would not; and as to Mr. Bartlett, much as I now desired an increase of income I would not live under his chilling influence, different as I was now in circumstances, for half his wealth. I actually shuddered at the thoughts of taking my wife to the scenes of my melancholy servitude.