Come!' he added.

'Let us talk of something else.

You have come here on some design of improving your fortune, I dare say; and I should grieve to put you out of heart.

I am some years older than you, besides; and may, on a few trivial points, advise you, perhaps.' There was not the least curiosity or impertinence in the manner of this offer, which was open-hearted, unaffected, and good-natured.

As it was next to impossible that he should not have his confidence awakened by a deportment so prepossessing and kind, Martin plainly stated what had brought him into those parts, and even made the very difficult avowal that he was poor.