right above the roofs of London, beneath which I had been but a wandering
atom a few minutes ago. I talked of my wonderful father, and Great Will,
and Pitt, and the Peerage. I amazed them with my knowledge. When I
finished a long recital of Great Will's chase of the deer, by saying that
I did not care about politics (I meant, in my own mind, that Pitt was
dull in comparison), they laughed enormously, as if I had fired them off.
'Do you know what you are, sir?' said the old gentleman; he had frowning
eyebrows and a merry mouth 'you're a comical character.'

I felt interested in him, and asked him what he was. He informed me that
he was a lawyer, and ready to be pantaloon to my clown, if I would engage
him.

'Are you in the Peerage?' said I.

'Not yet,' he replied.

'Well, then,' said I, 'I know nothing about you.'

The young lady screamed with laughter. 'Oh, you funny little boy; you
killing little creature!' she said, and coming round to me, lifted me out
of my chair, and wanted to know if I knew how to kiss.

'Oh, yes; I've been taught that,' said I, giving the salute without
waiting for the invitation; 'but,' I added, 'I don't care about it much.'

She was indignant, and told me she was going to be offended, so I let her
understand that I liked being kissed and played with in the morning
before I was up, and if she would come to my house ever so early, she
would find me lying next the wall and ready for her.