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teacher of music, which would have succeeded, had not his love of low company, and extravagance frustrated the scheme. The manager’s wife made up her mind to return to her husband, and, after they had mutally divided their cash, Allan took the road to London.
CHAP. V.
Having arrived at London, through the medium of an acquaintance, he was soon brought into notice, and engaged to many respectable parties. One night, when going towards Temple-Bar, he was joined by a young man, whom he had met at a place of bad repute. It rained hard, and they walked sharply on together, when they met an old man: his companion instantly knocked the man down, and robbed him of his watch and money: in his hurry he dropped the watch, which, Allan said, he picked up to return to its owner; but hearing footsteps, he made off, forgetting to leave the watch behind. Allan hastened to his lodgings, and packing up his clothes, was so fortunate as to get on board a ship ready to sail; and, having enjoyed a voyage to sea, until the awkward affair blew over, he arrived at Portsmouth. On leaving Portsmouth, he fell into conversation with a gentleman’s coachman, who offered to give him a cast to Southhampton for a trifle. Allan instantly agreed, and was rapidly conveyed along with ease and comfort.—When within two miles of Southampton, the coachman requested him to alight, lest his master should see him. This was just what Allan wished. He sat still, saying, he had bargained to be carried to Southampton, and unless he was carried there would not pay a farthing. In a counterfeited passion he at length jumped out, and the coachman, glad to be rid of him, drove off, and Allan trudged on towards the town. After walking through the streets, under a heavy rain, he discovered a recruiting party dancing in a public house. Allan soon caught the eye of the sergeant, and he suffered himself to be prevailed on to enlist, having a good part of his bounty-money paid him, so that he might “for once live like a prince.” In the morning he wandered to another part of the town, and again enlisted. In a short time he returned to his lodgings to secure a few articles he had stolen from on board the ship, when he heard his two serjeants salute each other below, and
