In this place I continued
standing for three-quarters-of-an-hour, during which time I saw a
great many young fellows whom I formerly knew in Scotland pass and
repass, with an air of familiarity, in their way to and from the
audience-chamber; while I was fain to stand shivering in the cold,
and turn my back to them that they might not perceive the lowness
of my condition, At length, Mr. Cringer came out to see a young
gentleman to the door, who was no other than Squire Gawky, dressed
in a very gay suit of clothes; at parting Mr. Cringer shook him by
the hand and told him he hoped to have the pleasure of his company
at dinner. Then turning about towards me, asked what were my
commands? When he understood I was the person who had brought the
letter from Mr. Crab, he affected to recollect my name, which,
however, he pretended he could not do till he had consulted
the letter again; to save him the trouble, I told him my name was
Random. Upon which he went on, "Ay, ay, Random, Random, Random--I
think I remember the name:" and very well he might, for this very
individual, Mr. Cringer, had many a time rode before my grandfather's
cloak-bag, in quality of a footman. "Well," says he, "you propose
to go on board a man-of-war as surgeon's mate.
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