But my suspicions soon vanished; for Ned Thornhill was at the bottom a very good-natured fellow.
'What did you say, George ?' interrupted I.'Thornhill, was not that his name?
It can certainly be no other than my landlord.'-- 'Bless me,' cried Mrs Arnold, 'is Mr Thornhill so near a neighbour of yours?
He has long been a friend in our family, and we expect a visit from him shortly.' 'My friend's first care,' continued my son, 'was to alter my appearance by a very fine suit of his own cloaths, and then I was admitted to his table upon the footing of half-friend, half-underling.

My business was to attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sate for his picture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic.

Beside this, I had twenty other little employments in the family.

I was to do many small things without bidding; to carry the cork screw; to stand godfather to all the butler's children; to sing when I was bid; to be never out of humour; always to be humble, and, if I could, to be very happy.
'In this honourable post, however, I was not without a rival.

A captain of marines, who was formed for the place by nature, opposed me in my patron's affections.