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spirit and true gentleman in the college.

I must acknowledge, notwithstanding the lofty air and tone I had assumed, I was in noway easy nor satisfied of the justice of my proceeding against Smithson. The sad defalcation on the third day haunted me like a living reproach, and pricked me as often as I accused the poor curate's son and his uncle of collusion. Still I was not so ashamed of this ungenerous treatment of him, as I was of my own defeat, and the thoughts of other men respecting me. Weak and wicked as I was, to shield myself from these, I undertook to foster the dislike which I now learned was entertained for Smithson, and to suggest one fresh ground of offence against him. happily for me, the men were but too ready to listen to my complaint.

Un

It is a dangerous trick, that of dig. ging pits for other folks. Avoid it, reader-always.

and see what's what with half an eye."

The conversation, of which the above elegant extract formed a part, was held in my own room, about an hour after I had been made acquainted in the hall with the success of Mr Smithson. A body of men had flocked thither to offer me their condolence, and to assure me of their readiness and desire to make my grievance unconditionally their own. Many speeches were made on the subject, and, as every one had something important and original to advance, it may easily be conceived that our meeting became at intervals exceedingly noisy, and the difficulty of drawing attention on the part of individuals inconveniently great. At one moment, my friends would deem it expedient to fall simultaneously into a violent rage, and to discharge themselves of their anger at one and the same moment. Then bedlam itself seemed loosed into the room; afterwards there would be a corresponding silence. Every one stopped for breath at once, and then every one bellowed out again. These continued alternations of excessive violence and extreme repose could not but be very distressing to the lodger overhead. They proved so. The rooms immediately above my own were occupied by Mr Squareroot him

In truth, the cordial sympathy that so suddenly burst upon me from my fellow-students, was at once a panacea to my broken spirits. Instead of averted looks, or sigus of triumph and ridicule, their recognitions were friendly and encouraging. As to the favour which had been afforded Smithson, they were, to a man, quite satisfied of that-and their indignation at the fact by far surpassed my own. Their ad.self; and at this very time he was vice to take immediate steps for the exposure of the "precious system," was offered in all the warmth of a brotherly regard, and urged with one consent. There was one individual especially indignant and violent in his counsel. A tall, fair-haired, dissipated youth, who had not opened any but his betting-book since his appearance in Cambridge, and who, with an income of three hundred pounds a-year, lived at the rate of as many thousands ; but this I knew not at the time. I have said, Mr Easyman, more than all the rest, was affected with choler at my disappointment.

As

"Of course," said he, " I knew how it would be. Why didn't 1 go in for the scholarship? Why do I take life easy? What's the use of reading, when every thing is settled beforehand? Upon my honour,” (Mr Easyman never went higher than this,) "I believe the best men do nothing at all at college. They are wise,

busy, in his capacity of moderator, in the concoction of divers mathematical puzzles, with which to tickle the brains of his friends at the ensuing bachelors' examination. Annoyed at length beyond his power of endurance, he sent his servant to us with a particular request, that we should be more temperate in the sound at least of our remarks; by which very natural and certainly justifiable proceeding, the tutor increased to its height the bitter feeling which was already engendered against him. Its effect, however, was decisive, for perfect silence ensued, and it was left for Mr Easy man, in these memorable words, to break it.

"Gentlemen," he said, in an under tone, and looking around him, "the right of discussion is contested with

us.

This only was wanting. But we will give the enemy no advantage. Let us separate now, but let me see you all in my rooms this afternoon to wine. No tutors will interrupt

us there. you."

Stukely, I shall expect

Which invitation being given and accepted, and a few remarks made afterwards in a subdued and gentle voice, the meeting for the present separated.

Although I had always lived on the most friendly terms with all the members of our college, I had not been, until now, in close, intimate association with any of them. I had heard of their parties and whist-meetings, but, wholly taken up with the serious employments of the past year, I had no time for personal enjoyments. Had it been otherwise, the accounts I had received of the doings at these convivial assemblies had rather repelled me than attracted me towards them. Still I had been cautious to say nothing against them. On the contrary, I had publicly always looked upon those who participated in them with great complacency, and more than once had listened to a rehearsal of their orgies with a wellfeigned delight. I have to confess that I found it my interest to do this, at the very time that a sovereign contempt for men thus yielding themselves to the miserable enjoyment of the present, utterly regardless of the future, was paramount in my mind; but I speak of a time when I had already assumed the airs of a patron and a conqueror. It was very different now. My defeat could not elevate⚫ my companions, but it had brought me very low. Now I could even feel very grateful for the invitation of Mr Easyman, and wonder how it was I had so long neglected the many kind and friendly invitations that had been offered me. Still more, I could conceive extreme indignation against those who spoke disparagingly and harshly of men whose greatest fault appeared but an excess of social love, an overflowing of human sensibilities.

The hour of Mr Easyman's wineparty arrived. I was about to set out for his rooms. I did not feel comfortable. I could not say that I was on really good terms with any one, least of all with myself. What could render me so irritable and vexed? No doubt the shameful conduct of Mr Squareroot the impudent trickery of him and his ill-favoured relative. Old Simmonds, who was in my bed-room during the visit of my friends in the morning, as I now walked across the

room to depart, asked me, as I thought, somewhat sharply, if I really intended to go.

"Go!" I answered hastily-" intend to go! What do you mean, old man? Most certainly I intend to go. Didn't you hear this morning? This barefaced piece of business isn't to rest here. Every one is satisfied of their conduct. Others have seen through it, and have known it all along."

"It is not for me to say, sir," said the gyp, very calmly, "what is the opinion, or what are the motives of those gentlemen. You are not one of them-you have never been one of them-and you must not become one. If you do, God help you!"

"Well, I'm sure! It is a pretty thing for you to dictate to me in this way. I tell you what it is, Simmonds, I have permitted you to go on after this fashion too long. I ought to have checked you at once. A younger man shouldn't have presumed so far, I can assure you."

"Mr Stukely," said the old man, "you frighten me. I know very well where all this ends. I have not been in college sixty years for nothing."

"Do you mean to insult me? I shall not submit to your impertinence. I suppose you think you may just say and do what you please now-but you'll find your mistake."

"Why can't you," continued the old man, taking no notice of my violence, "why can't you sit down tonight quietly and comfortably, as you have done always? You never wanted to go out before this evening, and you have been happy enough too."

"Sit down! No, I'll not sit down, until I have made my injury known to the whole world."

nonsense?

"Oh, dear me!" said the imperturbable gyp, "how can you talk such Why will you deceive yourself? Who will believe you? Do you think that Mr Squareroot's character is not too well-known? He wouldn't do such a thing to be made chancellor to-morrow. There's a dear gentleman, give me your hat, and don't tease yourself any more about the matter. There now, the kettle's boiling-do sit down and let me make your tea."

"No Simmonds, this will not do. I have promised my friends, and they will see me redressed."

"They will see you laughed at, sir. Every one will laugh at you, if you run about making this complaint." The gyp had reached a vulnerable part. I shrunk from ridicule as the horned snail does from the finger touch. An indistinct apprehension of his meaning disarmed me in an instant. The colour mounted to my cheek. I stood irresolute. Simmonds profited by the opportunity, and slipped my hat from my hands.

"I'll write home to my father," I said at length, sighing in great perplexity. "Simmonds, fetch me some letter-paper."

"Have you none here, sir?" enquired the poor fellow, looking nervously into my portfolio, and afraid to leave me. "None. day."

I used the last yester

"Very well then," he replied, evidently much annoyed, "I suppose I must get some ;" and he walked off very quickly for him-taking care to shut the door carefully after him.

The hour of my appointment was already past. I had resolved. Simmonds after all might be right. I would not go. I would that evening write to my father, explain the circumstances to him, and beg him at once to withdraw me from the university, with which I was already very much disgusted. It was a good resolution. The shadow of Mr Easyman shrouded me as I made it. I looked up, and lo! that gentleman was smiling at the window.

"Hallo!" said he. "Bricked up? Upon my honour, that's very clever. Open sesame, if you please. Fine animal that of yours," continued he, entering my room. "Rather groggy just now. First-rate in his time-almost ready for the knacker. I wonder what he is saying now to old Squareroot.'

"

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"Whom do you refer to?" "Your Caliban Simmonds." "Is he with Squareroot now? "Yes. I saw him as I crossed the court. Oh! Caliban is a sweet boy for his age. But they are all in one game; and I will say this for the whole tribe, they do play most cleverly into one another's hands."

"Are they really so bad? "Worse than housebreakers. Never mind. Come along, we are all wait ing for you."

VOL. LI. NO. CCCXVIII.

"Well, do you know, I was thinking, Easyman

“Oh ! don't think—there's a good fellow! There's really no time for it to-day. You shall think to-morrow, and act now. You know you have given your word to the men," (and the hat that Simmonds had a moment before enticed from my hand, the wily Easyman insidiously restored to it.) "It is your own party, and they are all eager to give you the meeting. They will never leave you, my boy, until you are righted. They are the real sort, depend upon it-true blood to the back-bone."

"I really do not feel inclined—I cannot go

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"Why, my dear fellow, consideryou wouldn't have the men laugh at you."

I plunged my head into the hat, and rushed out of the room with him.

"But is it true," I asked, when we reached his door" that you saw Simmonds a minute or two ago with the tutor?"

"As true as I see you now-upon my honour."

"Then, Easyman, that old man, is neither more nor less than a greyheaded devil."

Mr Easyman had, without exception, the very best rooms in the college. Why should they not be? they were the most expensive. The manner in which they were fitted up did credit to his taste. Mr Easyman was not an ordinary man. He prided himself upon his knowledge of the fitness of things. A stranger would discover his peculiar talent at a glance. He was a walking illustration of himself-of his own mind. His dress, his air, his gait, his very hand, were so many indices to his inner self. There was a union, a harmony, certain corresponding effects, in all of them. They all bore testimony to the innate sense of order and propriety. Walk into his abodeyou were struck with the costliness and elegance of the furniture, but not so much with these as with the remarkable adaptation and blending of the several pieces. Every one was perfect; and, with reference to the others, exactly in that particular spot which it would have selected for itself, had it been endued with the powers of sense and motion. Shall I describe his bedroom? My pen halts.

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us there. you."

Stukely, I shall expect

Which invitation being given and accepted, and a few remarks made afterwards in a subdued and gentle voice, the meeting for the present separated.

Although I had always lived on the most friendly terms with all the members of our college, I had not been, until now, in close, intimate association with any of them. I had heard of their parties and whist-meetings, but, wholly taken up with the serious employments of the past year, I had no time for personal enjoyments. Had it been otherwise, the accounts I had received of the doings at these convivial assemblies had rather repelled me than attracted me towards them. Still I had been cautious to say nothing against them. On the contrary, I had publicly always looked upon those who participated in them with great complacency, and more than once had listened to a rehearsal of their orgies with a wellfeigned delight. I have to confess that I found it my interest to do this, at the very time that a sovereign contempt for men thus yielding themselves to the miserable enjoyment of the present, utterly regardless of the future, was paramount in my mind; but I speak of a time when I had already assumed the airs of a patron and a conqueror. It was very different now. My defeat could not elevate my companions, but it had brought me very low. Now I could even feel very grateful for the invitation of Mr Easyman, and wonder how it was I had so long neglected the many kind and friendly invitations that had been offered me. Still more, I could conceive extreme indignation against those who spoke disparagingly and harshly of men whose greatest fault appeared but an excess of social love, an overflowing of human sensibilities.

The hour of Mr Easyman's wineparty arrived. I was about to set out for his rooms. I did not feel comfortable. I could not say that I was on really good terms with any one, least of all with myself. What could render me so irritable and vexed? No doubt the shameful conduct of Mr Squareroot the impudent trickery of him and his ill-favoured relative. Old Simmonds, who was in my bed-room during the visit of my friends in the morning, as I now walked across the

room to depart, asked me, as I thought, somewhat sharply, if I really intended to go.

"Go!" I answered hastily-" intend to go! What do you mean, old man? Most certainly I intend to go. Didn't you hear this morning? This barefaced piece of business isn't to rest here. Every one is satisfied of their conduct. Others have seen through it, and have known it all along.'

"It is not for me to say, sir," said the gyp, very calmly, "what is the opinion, or what are the motives of those gentlemen. You are not one of them-you have never been one of them and you must not become one. If you do, God help you!"

"Well, I'm sure! It is a pretty thing for you to dictate to me in this way. I tell you what it is, Simmonds, I have permitted you to go on after this fashion too long. I ought to have checked you at once. A younger man shouldn't have presumed so far, I can assure you.'

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"Mr Stukely," said the old man, "you frighten me. I know very well where all this ends. I have not been in college sixty years for nothing."

"Do you mean to insult me? I shall not submit to your impertinence. I suppose you think you may just say and do what you please now-but you'll find your mistake."

"Why can't you," continued the old man, taking no notice of my violence, "why can't you sit down tonight quietly and comfortably, as you have done always? You never wanted to go out before this evening, and you have been happy enough too."

"Sit down! No, I'll not sit down, until I have made my injury known to the whole world."

"Oh, dear me!" said the imperturbable gyp, "how can you talk such nonsense? Why will you deceive yourself? Who will believe you? Do you think that Mr Squareroot's character is not too well-known? He wouldn't do such a thing to be made chancellor to-morrow. There's a dear gentleman, give me your hat, and don't tease yourself any more about the matter. There now, the kettle's boiling—do sit down and let me make your tea."

"No Simmonds, this will not do. I have promised my friends, and they will see me redressed."

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They will see you laughed at, sir. Every one will laugh at you, if you run about making this complaint.' The gyp had reached a vulnerable part. I shrunk from ridicule as the horned snail does from the finger touch. An indistinct apprehension of his meaning disarmed me in an instant. The colour mounted to my cheek. I stood irresolute. Simmonds profited by the opportunity, and slipped my hat from my hands.

"I'll write home to my father," I said at length, sighing in great perplexity. "Simmonds, fetch me some letter-paper."

"Have you none here, sir?" enquired the poor fellow, looking nervously into my portfolio, and afraid to leave me. "None.

day."

66

I used the last yester

Very well then," he replied, evidently much annoyed, "I suppose I must get some;" and he walked off very quickly for him-taking care to shut the door carefully after him.

The hour of my appointment was already past. I had resolved. Simmonds after all might be right. I would not go. I would that evening write to my father, explain the circumstances to him, and beg him at once to withdraw me from the university, with which I was already very much disgusted. It was a good resolution. The shadow of Mr Easyman shrouded me as I made it. I looked up, and lo! that gentleman was smiling at the window.

"Hallo!" said he. "Bricked up? Upon my honour, that's very clever. Open sesame, if you please. Fine animal that of yours," continued he, entering my room.

Rather groggy just now. First-rate in his time-almost ready for the knacker. I wonder what he is saying now to old Squareroot."

"

"Whom do you refer to?" "Your Caliban Simmonds." "Is he with Squareroot now? "Yes. I saw him as I crossed the court. Oh! Caliban is a sweet boy for his age. But they are all in one game; and I will say this for the whole tribe, they do play most cleverly into one another's hands."

"Are they really so bad?" "Worse than housebreakers. Never mind. Come along, we are all waiting for you."

VOL. LI. NO, CCCXVIII.

"Well, do you know, I was thinking, Easyman'

"Oh! don't think there's a good fellow! There's really no time for it to-day. You shall think to-morrow, and act now. You know you have given your word to the men," (and the hat that Simmonds had a moment before enticed from my hand, the wily Easyman insidiously restored to it.) "It is your own party, and they are all eager to give you the meeting. They will never leave you, my boy, until you are righted. They are the real sort, depend upon it-true blood to the back-bone."

"I really do not feel inclined-I cannot go

"Why, my dear fellow, consideryou wouldn't have the men laugh at you."

I plunged my head into the hat, and rushed out of the room with him.

"But is it true," I asked, when we reached his door" that you saw Simmonds a minute or two ago with the tutor?"

"As true as I see you now-upon my honour."

"Then, Easyman, that old man, is neither more nor less than a greyheaded devil."

Mr Easyman had, without exception, the very best rooms in the college. Why should they not be? they were the most expensive. The manner in which they were fitted up did credit to his taste. Mr Easyman was not an ordinary man. He prided himself upon his knowledge of the fitness of things. A stranger would discover his peculiar talent at a glance. He was a walking illustration of himself-of his own mind. His dress, his air, his gait, his very hand, were so many indices to his inner self. There was a union, a harmony, certain corresponding effects, in all of them. They all bore testimony to the innate sense of order and propriety. Walk into his abodeyou were struck with the costliness and elegance of the furniture, but not so much with these as with the remarkable adaptation and blending of the several pieces. Every one was perfect; and, with reference to the others, exactly in that particular spot which it would have selected for itself, had it been endued with the powers of sense and motion. Shall I describe his bedroom? My pen halts.

2 G

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