Languages & literature > Aurus clavus, or, The adventures of a gold trinket, supposed to have been written by itself

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more lenient than they had any reason to expect.
Having given them a sharp reprimand for their
very improper conduct, aggravated, as he very
justly observed, by its being committed on the
morning of the Lord's-day, he fined each of
them in the amount of half-a-guinea; and as
my master was the person who broke the lan¬
tern, he was ordered to pay the price of a new
one, which amounted to seven shillings and
sixpence more; and lastly, that they should
^each and all of them find caution for their orderly
behaviour. Matters being arranged, they were
dismissed from durance vile, and next day Rob
and Allan were at the binding-shop as usual.
Will, however, was absent—he was ashamed to
shew himself; his pride was mortified; his spirit
was broken. He could no longer bear the sight
of a near neighbour or the reproach of friends,
and he resolved to leave Edinburgh, and push
his fortune in a place where he was unknown.
There was one obstacle in my master’s way,
namely, the want of money. He thought of
selling me, but was offered such an insignificant
trifle by the goldsmith that he would not part
with me. His finances just amounted to half-a
crown, and with that he set out on the tramp,