Mr Whitstable was a white-haired man who seemed the essence of respectability. He stooped slightly in the shoulders, and looked Aubrey through and over, with a pair of dark, brilliant, penetrating eyes, in a way not exactly calculated to add to that young gentleman's comfort, nor to restore that excellent opinion of his own virtues which had been somewhat shaken of late. "You are of kin to the writer of this letter, Mr Marshall?" Aubrey admitted it. "And you desire to learn my trade?" "I am afeared I scarce do desire it, Master: but I am content, and needs must." "What have you hitherto done?" "Master," said Aubrey, looking frankly at his questioner, "I fear I have hitherto done nothing save to spend money and make a fool of myself. That is no recommendation, I know." "You have done one other thing, young man," said the old bookseller: "you have told the truth. That is a recommendation. Mr Marshall tells me not that, yet can I read betwixt the lines. I shall ask you no questions, and as you deal with me, so shall I with you. Have you eaten and drunk since you entered the city? Good: take this cloth, and dust that row of books. I shall give you your diet, three pound by the year, and a suit of livery." And Mr Whitstable walked away into the back part of his shop, leaving Aubrey to digest what he had just heard. The idea of wearing livery was not in his eyes, what it would be in ours, a part of his humiliation, for it was then customary for gentlemen, as well as servants, to wear the livery of their employers. Even ladies did it, when in the service of royal or noble mistresses. This, therefore, was merely what he might expect in the circumstances: and as his own meanest suit was not in keeping with his new position, it was rather a relief than otherwise. But he was slightly disconcerted to find how accurately his master had read him in the first minute. A little wholesome reflection brought Aubrey to the conclusion that his best plan--nay, his only plan in present circumstances--was to accommodate himself to them, and to do his very best in his new calling. Almost unconsciously, he set Hans before him as a suitable example, and dusted the row of books under this influence in a creditable manner.