Moreover, it was absurd, as he said, with a keen sense of his own cheapness, to suppose that he could find the funds to buy and ply such a ship as that! Truth is a fugitive creature, even when she deigns to be visible, or even to exist.

The truth of Mr.Cheeseman's statement had existed, but was long since flown.

Such was his worth that he could now afford to buy the London Trader three times over, and pay ready money every time.

But when he first invested hard cash in her--against the solid tears of his prudent wife--true enough it was that he could only scrape together one quarter of the sum required.

Mrs.Cheeseman, who was then in a condition of absorbing interest with Polly, made it her last request in this world--for she never expected to get over it--that Jemmy should not run in debt on a goose-chase, and fetch her poor spirit from its grave again.