was ushered into his presence, he was standing with two of the
governors. "This is the lad," said one of them, "his name is _Japhet_."

"Japhet," replied Mr Cophagus; "um, scriptural--Shem, Ham, _um_--and so
on. Boy reads?"

"Very well, and writes a very good hand. He is a very good boy, Mr
Cophagus."

"Read--write--spell--good, and _so on_. Bring him
up--rudiments--spatula--write labels--um--M.D. one of these days--make a
man of him--and so on," said this strange personage, walking round and
round me with his cane to his nose, and scrutinising my person with his
twinkling eyes. I was dismissed after this examination and approval, and
the next day, dressed in a plain suit of clothes, was delivered by the
porter at the shop of Mr Phineas Cophagus, who was not at home when I
arrived.




Chapter II

Like all Tyros, I find the rudiments of learning extremely
difficult and laborious, but advance so rapidly than I can do
without my Master.


A tall, fresh-coloured, but hectic looking young man, stood behind the
counter, making up prescriptions, and a dirty lad, about thirteen years