and, as Mr. Perkins was now come up, he whispered to him, but not so low but Henry heard these words66 Sure, he won't peach."

"Pshaw!" said the usher, "what is there to tell?-if the man happened to be hunting rats as we passed by, where could be the harm of looking on?"

Roger laughed, and added, "True—and I verily believe that if the doctor himself had been with us, he would have joined in the sport, in spite of wigs, spectacles, and pedantry."

By this time, the young gentleman, having talked away his fears respecting the reports which Henry might make on the rat hunt, turned from the usher to Henry, and added, "Milner! I say, Milner! how long have you become a Methodist preacher ?"

"Master Roger Clayton," said Henry, without noticing this question," could you clear those bushes just at your feet? I think I could:" and, without another word, he sprang over some bushes, which grew before the little eminence on which he had been sitting; ran like a hart down the hill, and was waiting coolly and composedly at the bottom of the lane, when he was joined by the whole assembly of boys, who were posting home (having somewhat overstaid their time) as fast as the short legs of their leader, Mr. Perkins, would admit.

And here we conclude our chapter, reserving the ac count of the remainder of this first day of Henry's school career for another section.

CHAPTER XVI.

Containing the remainder of Henry's first day at School, together with a full, true, and correct account of the Salt Plot.

"You are late, sir," said Mr. Simson to his brother usher, as the party entered the school-yard; "you are precisely twenty minutes after your time, Mr. Perkins ;" and he held up his watch before the eyes of his brother pedagogue.

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Indeed," said Mr. Perkins; "then my watch must

have strangely deceived me; I must have my timepiece regulated."

"You will do well so to do ;" answered the other, dryly: "a good watch, Mr. Perkins, is no bad companion; and a punctual man would not willingly be without one."

"True," replied Mr. Perkins; at the same time winking at Roger.

Mr. Simson then led the way to the hall, where the supper was laid out, consisting of huge luncheons of bread and cheese, with flagons of beer and bowls of milk, the head of the table being graced with a large dish of fruit, puffs, or pasties; every thing being good, wholesome, and plentiful. There every one took his place, with the exception of George, who was taken aside by Mr. Simson to repeat his grammar.

The party at the table were hardly seated before Henry felt the lappet of his jacket twitched, and, turning round, was saluted in his ears by the delighted little boy, who came to say that he had said his grammar; "And I have asked Mr. Simson to ask Miss Judy if I might sleep with you, and he said he would; and he said I should be your servant too, and then, you know, I am to sit by you, because that's the rule."

"Rule or no rule," said a great boy, who happened to be seated next to Henry, "you shan't come here."

"Nor here," said the boy on the other side.

1

"Well, then," replied Henry, "I will go with you to the bottom of the table, though I understand that I have a right to sit near the top, as I belong to the first class." Henry was about to move, when Mr. Simson settled the matter by displacing the boy at Henry's left-hand, and giving his seat to George.

The supper being concluded, candles were lighted, it being dusk; and Mr. Simson, whose post was at the head of the table, indicated to Henry that now was the time to prepare for the next day, pointing out to him the exercise which was expected of him as a member of the first class, and lending him the books which were required, until he could be duly supplied with some of his

own.

Henry on looking at his task, found that it would require his attention; nevertheless, he was not so entirely occupied with it as not to be able now and then

to give a useful hint to the little careless one who sat at his left-hand.

Wellings and Marten had drunk tea that evening in the parlour, and did not appear till Henry had nearly completed his task; and, when they entered, they sat down quietly to their studies.

Thus every thing passed quietly till half after seven, at which time, Mr. Simson being called out, a buzz immediately commenced among the great boys. Henry heard many allusions to the rat-hunt and the ferrets he also heard young Wellings ask when Tom Jones meant to send what he had promised. The buzz and murmur gradually became louder, till at length young Wellings and Roger became quite riotous, and began to lug the forms from under each other: the appearance of Mr. Simson, however, soon hushed all to silence; and, as it was now eight o'clock, the lesser boys were taken up to bed, and the elder ones allowed to amuse themselves for the next hour in any way they pleased, so that they kept themselves quiet. Some of them, accordingly, set themselves to drawing, others to reading, others to some handicraft, and others pursued their studies: thus time wore away till nine o'clock, when the remainder of the boys were dismissed to bed. Little George had been allowed to sit up for Henry, and was directed by Mr. Simson to show him his bed, which was the same which the little boy had always occupied.

Marten had taken up the light and led the way, being followed in perfect silence, till the whole procession were completely beyond the hearing of Mr. Simson: such a scene of boisterous merriment followed, as soon as they were entered upon the staircase which led to their sleeping apartment, as quite amazed Henry, who had never seen any thing of the kind before.

“I'll bet you, Roger," said Wellings, "that I go up these stairs without touching a single step."

"Then you must perform your exploit in the dark," said Marten," for I shall go on with the candle." "But you won't," said Wellings.

"And why not?" asked Marten.

"Because I won't let you," and he attempted to seize the candlestick.

"Stand back, sir," said Marten, "keep your distance don't be playing your blackguard tricks with me:" and the eyes of the young man, as he stood holding the light

at the top of the stairs, flashed with indignation; while his fine features, for they were indeed remarkably fine, expressed the feelings of contempt which he entertained for all such of his companions as he considered less gentlemanly than himself; in which number he included nearly the whole of his schoolfellows.

"Look at the exquisite," said Wellings; "how indignant he is, but I will have the candle in spite of him," and he sprang up the stairs and endeavoured to seize it.

Marten immediately set it in a niche in the deep wall, where once had been a narrow window; and gathering his person into an attitude of defence, he threatened to strike Wellings backwards to the bottom of the stairs if he offered to touch him.

If my reader remembers the history of the bull, he will not expect many mighty achievements from Master Wellings, the seat of whose valour, like that of Garagantua's, lay for the most part on the surface of his tongue. The young gentleman therefore gave up the contest with as good a grace as possible, and the party reached their sleeping apartment without further interruption.

The bedchamber, into which Marten led his companions, was a very long room on the left of the court; but, as a passage was taken out of it, it was much narrower than the hall over which it extended; it contained eight beds, with blue check curtains, one of which was at each end of the room, and the other five in a line opposite the windows. It was one of these beds at the end of the room which George pointed out to Henry as that appointed for him; and he also showed him some pegs, on which to hang his clothes.

Henry, by the advice of Lord H—, had made up his mind, with the Divine assistance, to endeavour to do well himself, and to avoid, as much as possible, all interference with his companions; he, therefore, when he had taken off his coat, knelt down by his bed to pray, placing himself in such a situation that he was nearly hid by the curtains of his bed.

He had scarcely began his prayer, when the noise of many voices, which had hitherto filled the whole apartment, suddenly ceased, and the sound of laughter affectedly (for boys can be affected as well as young ladies) met his ear from every part of the room. Henry, however, remembered what his uncle had said respecting the mode of disarming quizzers, by taking no notice of

them, and endeavoured to fix his mind on what he was doing; the smothered laughs, however, soon broke out into loud bursts of merriment, which Master Wellings took upon himself to reprove, in such a way that if Henry had had any ears at all for what was passing, he would have found it impossible not to apply the ridicule to himself.

"I am ashamed of you, young gentlemen," said he; "for my part I am quite edified to see so much piety: it ought to put us all to shame. What a charming good boy really I am almost induced by this fine example to pray myself. Oh! but what shall I do for a prayer? who has got a prayer-book? Will nobody help me out with a prayer-book? or could I not recollect some of the invocations of the pious Eneas? Dear me, as the ladies say, what shall I do? will no one suggest some holy thoughts?" and at the same moment he knelt down with mock solemnity, exclaiming,

"Teque, Jupiter omnipotens invoco."

Henry had by this time risen from his knees, and was stepping into his bed, when little George whispered to him; but not so low as not to be heard by Marten, whose bed was next to Henry's; They have been quizzing you, Master Milner, did you not hear them?"

"I did not hear any thing said about me," replied Henry, speaking low also; "but I heard Master Wellings reprove his companions, and that very properly too, for being so much more profane than the ancient heathens." "Very good, very good, indeed, Milner," exclaimed Marten, "excellent; Wellings shall hear that, and I hope he will henceforward be ashamed of such ungentlemanly conduct as he has thought proper to practise tonight." He then repeated aloud what he had heard pass between Henry and George; adding, "It is my advice, Wellings, that you should leave off quizzing till you have more wit."

"I shall leave off quizzing," said the other, "when you cease to be a quiz, Master John Marten, and not before."

"Well," replied the other, "I have given you a piece of good advice, and you may take it or leave it alone, just as you please; for, to be plain with you, I don't care one farthing whether you make yourself a fool or not."