'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.
'And who lies outside ?' she asked.
'That's my papa,' I was beginning to say, but broke the words with a sob, for I seemed to be separated from him now by the sea itself.
They petted me tenderly.

My story was extracted by alternate leading questions from the old gentleman and timely caresses from the ladies.

I could tell them everything except the name of the street where I lived.
My midnight excursion from the house of my grandfather excited them chiefly; also my having a mother alive who perpetually fanned her face and wore a ball-dress and a wreath; things that I remembered of my mother.