I could not lie, and evasion was not my forte. A man or boy in the wrong can never express himself with propriety; an opinion in which Quinctilian also appears to coincide, when he asserts—
"Orator perfectus nisi vir bonus esse non potest."
I therefore summoned up sufficient breath and courage to answer him in the affirmative.
"And when, pray, were you there?" said he.
"Yesterday, sir, your nephew asked me to come and see him."
"The impudent little blackguard?" cried he.
"I hope you ain't angry, sir?"
"Angry with you?—no, my lad; you're an active little chap, and I wish that imp of mine would take a pattern by you. Trot along, and mind you have 'a lift' both ways."
Off I went, as light as a balloon when the ropes are cut.
I executed my commission with dispatch, and completely won the favour of Mr. Wallis, by returning the money which he had given me for coach-hire.