"No, I could not sleep; the fact is, Joey, I am determined to have that girl, Miss Mathews, if I can; a bold attempt for a tinker, you will say, but not for a gentleman born as I was. I thought I never should care for a woman; but there is a current in the affairs of men. I shall now drift with the current, and if it leads to fortune, so much the better; if not, he who dares greatly does greatly. I feel convinced that I should make her a good husband, and it shall not be my fault if I do not gain her." "Do you mean to propose in form with your foot on your wheel?" "No, saucebox, I don't; but I mean to turn my knife-grinder's wheel into a wheel of fortune; and with your help I will do so." "You are sure of my help if you are serious," replied Joey; "but how you are to manage I cannot comprehend." "I have already made out a programme, although the interweaving of the plot is not yet decided upon; but I must get to the next town as fast as I can, as I must make preparations." On arrival, they took up humble quarters, as usual; and then Spikeman went to a stationer's, and told them that he had got a commission to execute for a lady. He bought sealing-wax, a glass seal, with "Esperance" as a motto, gilt-edged notepaper, and several other requisites in the stationery line, and ordered them to be packed up carefully, that he might not soil them; he then purchased scented soap, a hair-brush, and other articles for the toilet; and having obtained all these requisites, he added to them one or two pair of common beaver gloves, and then went to the barber's to get his hair cut. "I am all ready now, Joey," said he, when he returned to the alehouse; "and to-morrow we retrace our steps." "What! back to the village?" "Yes; and where we shall remain some time, perhaps." On reaching the village next morning, Spikeman hired a bedroom, and, leaving Joey to work the grindstone, remained in his apartments. When Joey returned in the evening, he found Spikeman had been very busy with the soap, and had restored his hands to something like their proper colour; he had also shaved himself, and washed his hair clean and brushed it well. "You see, Joey, I have commenced operations already; I shall soon be prepared to act the part of the gentleman who has turned tinker to gain the love of a fair lady of high degree." "I wish you success: but what are your plans?" "That you will find out to-morrow morning; now we must go to bed." CHAPTER THIRTY. PLOTTING, READING AND WRITING. Spikeman was up early the next morning. When they had breakfasted, he desired Joey to go for the knife-grinder's wheel, and follow him. As soon as they were clear of the village, Spikeman said, "It will not do to remain at the village; there's a cottage half a mile down the road where they once gave me a lodging; we must try if we can get it now."