Strolling about the fields of an evening I often used to hear the children of the cottage calling my name.

It was weeks before they gave up seeking for me.

One of them, the youngest, would sob herself to sleep of a night, thinking that I was dead: they were affectionate children.
"'I boarded with my shopkeeping friends for nearly a year, and from them I went to some new people who had lately come to the neighbourhood, and who possessed a really excellent cook.

I think I could have been very satisfied with these people, but, unfortunately, they came down in the world, and had to give up the big house and the cook, and take a cottage, and I did not care to go back to that sort of life.
"'Accordingly I looked about for a fresh opening.

There was a curious old fellow who lived not far off.