it is a
labour to the performers, and affords, or is meant to afford, pleasure to the
spectators. He seems, in manner and rank, above the class of young men who take
that turn; but I remember hearing them say, that the little theatre at Fairport
was to open with the performance of a young gentleman, being his first
appearance on any stage. - If this should be thee, Lovel! - Lovel? yes, Lovel or
Belville are just the names which youngsters are apt to assume on such occasions
- on my life, I am sorry for the lad.«
    Mr. Oldbuck was habitually parsimonious, but in no respects mean; his first
thought was to save his fellow-traveller any part of the expense of the
entertainment, which he supposed must be in his situation more or less
inconvenient. He therefore took an opportunity of settling privately with Mr.
Mackitchinson. The young traveller remonstrated against his liberality, and only
acquiesced in deference to his years and respectability.
    The mutual satisfaction which they found in each other's society induced Mr.
Oldbuck to propose, and Lovel willingly to accept, a scheme for travelling
together to the end of their journey. Mr. Oldbuck intimated a wish to pay
two-thirds of the hire of a post-chaise, saying, that a proportional quantity of
room was necessary to his accommodation; but this Mr. Lovel resolutely declined.
Their expense then was mutual, unless when Lovel occasionally slipt a shilling
into the hand of a growling postilion; for Oldbuck, tenacious of ancient
customs, never extended his guerdon beyond eighteen-pence a stage. In this
manner they travelled, until they arrived at Fairport about two o'clock on the
following day.
    Lovel probably expected that his travelling companion would have invited him
to dinner on his arrival; but his consciousness of a want of ready preparation
for unexpected guests, and perhaps some other reasons, prevented Oldbuck from
paying him that attention. He only begged to see him as early as he could make
it convenient to call in a forenoon, recommended him to a widow who had
apartments to let, and to a person who kept a decent ordinary; cautioning both
of them apart, that he only knew Mr. Lovel as a pleasant companion in a
post-chaise, and did not mean to guarantee any bills which he might contract
while residing at Fairport. The young gentleman's figure and manners, not to
mention a well-furnished trunk, which soon arrived by sea, to his address at
Fairport, probably went as far in his favour as the limited recommendation of