ing, are worthy of eternal reprobation -for fishing as practised by you is sinful in the highest degree; but as my brother encourages you in it, I cry aloud in vain.”

But how is it sinful, aunt Barbara?"-enquired the young lady. "At any rate, if you fish, do it with real flies."

"Oh! t'would be so cruel."

"Cruel? what is cruelty compared to deceit? You delude the unfortunate fish under false appearances, and are therefore virtually guilty of a lie. But go your ways. Good Mr Whiffle will soon be here, and you shall profit from his exhortations.'

Miss Barbara pursued her way af ter this rebuke, and Mary followed the windings of the stream, and soon arrived at the point of the river where the ripples on the water promised the best sport. It was a beautiful nook, where a gigantic willow hung over the wide reach, and Mary laid her basket on the ground, and was proceeding to put her rod in order, when

*

-Aunt Barbara had transacted her business at the upper end of the village, and administered sundry preventives of iniquity, in the shape of tracts against smuggled gin and other illicit delectations, and was on her way home again, when the straw-hat of her niece, glinting near the willow, attracted her observation. She adjusted her spectacles with renewed accuracy on the long thin bridge of her nose, at sight of the well-known Dunstable, and could scarcely believe the evidence of her eyes, corroborated by her silver-mounted Dollands, when she saw standing by the side of her niece the figure of a tall young man. She saw even the bright brass buttons on his light green coat, she saw his grey beaver-light, fancy-coloured waistcoat, and from his general appearance, could not resist the inevitable conclusion that he was the most gentlemanly, handsome-looking man she had ever gazed on in the course of her life.

Long stood Aunt Barbara on the little eminence that overlooks the river for nearly a mile of its course, watching the motions of the pair. They were evidently well acquainted, they stood so near each other. They were evidently delighted, Mary had so entirely neglected her fishing.

What's that she sees ?-His hand goes gently round Mary's waist; the grey beaver gets into a state of the most alarming proximity to the Dunstable bonnet, and Heavens!-

At that very moment a slap on the shoulder sent the spectacles she had so sedulously fixed, spinning about a yard beyond her red tipt nose, and Aunt Barbara's farther observations were unavoidably suspended by an inability of seeing any thing at the distance of twenty feet.

"Hallo! old aunty! Here we are, all alive and kicking. How are ye, old one?-how's nunky?"

"George!-you've broken my spectacles-when did you come home? run after Mary. Such a thing! ah! what a sinful world!"

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Why, what's the matter? Is this a way of receiving a dutiful nephew after the dangers of the deep, and a hundred perils besides? Cheer up, old lady, and don't stand gazing up the brook as if you expected to see something wonderful under the old willow."

"I've seen it, George. Where are my spectacles?-the gipsy-the cunning, double-faced fishing, gipsythat's the fish she's after! Oh! the wickedness of the unregenerate slut!"

"What's all this?" exclaimed George, helping the old lady to re-adjust her peepers.

"Do you see nothing, George, just under the great tree?— -a white bonnet?-a grey hat?-a man's grey hat?"

"Neither hat nor bonnet-the devil a thing is moving near the water but the miller's brown cow-and now, that I look at her, I declare the mark on her rump is something in the shape of Mary's poky bonnet."

"I certainly see a cow," answered the aunt," but I am as certain as I am of my existence that I saw a man speaking to Mary, a tall handsome man, I should know him again among a thousand, George! I saw him with my own eyes put his arm round Mary's waist; and his hat, George, and her bonnet were just going together when your sudden attack'

"Wakened you out of your dream and showed you that the whole vision was nothing but a white streak on an old cow. Come, come, aunty, don't try to set me against Mary, for I wont believe a word to her discredit-no,

by heavens, though fifty aunts were to wear out fifty pairs of spectacles in prying out hats and bonnets on all the cow's rumps in England."

The aunt and nephew pursued their way in silence, for George was irate at the accusations brought against his sister, and aunt Barbara was imagining mischief in her heart, and only waiting for a public opportunity of accusing her in presence of her good uncle and, if possible, of the godly Mr Whiffle. As they passed the Crown they perceived symptoms of an arrival in the yard-a post-chaise was standing as if recently come in, and a thin lank-haired young man was lifting a pretty heavy trunk from the dicky, which he then carried in the direction they were going.

"Ho, my friend," said George, "you seem a stranger here. Where are you off to?"

"Unto the domicile of one who dwelleth in these parts, called Ignatius Hubble, Esquire.'

"And whose is that huge box, if I may ask?"

"It appertaineth unto the good and learned Jerome Whiffle, sometime a dweller in the tents of sin but now a portioner in Canaan."

"And what the devil is this Canaanite going to do at my uncle's? By Jove I've a great

"To subdue the rebelliousness of an unlicked cub called Hope."—— A grasp, as of a Boa Constrictor,

laid on the shoulder of the young man made him pause-a flush of momentary anger passed across his face, and even a slight intention was visible of resenting the insult, but in an instant all such thoughts were checked, and he continued,

"If I have offended by speaking too plainly the object of my master's coming, restrain your anger. Do I speak to the young alumnus?"

"My name is George Hope, and when I have found out what all this rigmarole singing through the nose can mean, I will let both you and your master know a little more of me.'

"How glad I am he is come!" exclaimed Miss Barbara, turning her eyes to heaven. "Oh, George, you are a fortunate youth; your uncle has fixed on the great Mr Whiffle as your tutor-he is to have the entire management of all your actions-to teach you all the sciences; he has written a work on conic sections and defluxions, and is the cleverest man in England; and so good! His books, I am told, are truly edifying, and his very domestic speaks like a true sheep.'

"He looks uncommonly like one, and that's the same thing," replied the nephew, hurrying on with increased speed, as he could make neither head nor tale of the extraordinary story his aunt had told him, and was anxious for an explanation from the lips of Mr Hubble himself.

That worthy gentleman was so delighted to see his nephew, and had so many questions to ask, that the presence of the thin young man with the trunk was scarcely noticed.

"Your aunt has already told you," began the senior," of your future happiness in acquiring the assistance of one of the most learned men of any age or country; but before I resign my charge of your intellectual advancement, answer me a few questions. I see by your tartan-coloured waistcoat and plaid trousers, as well as by a letter lately received, that you have visited the northern limits of this island. Did you make any observations on the needle in those hyperborean regions?"

"I did'nt like," replied the youth, whose thoughts reverted to the artificer of the aforesaid waistcoat and trousers in the Isle of Sky," to trust to the ignorant natives, but I've brought home plenty of stuff to be fitted up by more scientific hands."

"What?-simple notes? We shall work them out with the help of Mr Whiffle, and I am highly pleased, my dear George, that you attend to objects of such incalculable importance."

"By Jupiter!" thought the simpleminded George, "this fellow, Mr Whiffle, is nothing but a tailor."

"Another thing which, in those lofty districts, is worthy of notice, is the quantity of rain or moisture, whether in the form of dew or mist,

which falls in the course of the year. Have you taken any notes on the subject?"

"Hav'n't I? that's all," replied the young philosopher. "I've brought home two or three gallons of the purest dew I could find."

"My dear boy," exclaimed the gratified senior," Mr Whiffle, I am sure, will be delighted with your conduct. We shall have many a happy evening discussing the specimen you have brought. And the yacht, George, what have you to say on the subject of sailing?"

"Ah, sir, that's a sad story. I fell in with the Western Yacht Club in the Mull of Cantyre, and a gentleman of the name of Nichol Jarvie challenged me to race."

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Speak in scientific language, George," interrupted Ignatius, "it aids perspicuity of thought-proposed to you, you would say, a series of experiments on the propellability of your respective yachts.'

"Just so; I hoisted all sail and pulled hard on the wind in hopes of weathering the point. By this I saved a tack and left Jarvie half a league astern. The breeze rose every minute; and that fool, the cautious Scotchman, took in two reefs in his mainsail and luffed in the wind's eye; I tore along, and didn't care a rush though it blew all my canvass to rags-I hoisted more sail, and had just set my sky-scrapers when, all of a sudden, came a devil of a squall, and I found myself swimming for life, and was only picked up after half an hour's battle, by another of the squadron-the crew was saved at the same time."

"'Twas a noble self-devotion in the cause of science," exclaimed Ignatius with enthusiasm. "You understand the cause, I suppose, of the catastrophe ?"

"She was crank built, and her spars were too high."

"But the process of her disappearing?" continued Ignatius. "She foundered."

"My dear boy, use philosophical terms. Your yacht, under the sudden impulse of the wind, was unable to displace a quantity of water proportionate to the increased weight im parted to her by the impact, and therefore the velocity which would otherwise have continued in a horizontal direction on the surface, took a per

"Indeed?" said Ignatius, "I rejoice to hear it. Leave the trunk here, my friend; some one shall take it up to Mr Whiffle's room, and go you into the kitchen, where I have given directions for you to be attended to."

"Gratias agimus, Vale!" replied the youth with a bow, and betook himself to the hospitable regions ruled over by the buxom cook.

"He speaks Latin too,-a good omen, George, for you; it resolves itself, in fact, into a question in the rule-of-three, if he teaches his servant Latin, what will he not succeed in making his pupil ?"

"He shan't succeed in making a fool of me," muttered the doughty George, "if a broken head can cure him of the wish to try. But, ha! here comes Mary."

The meeting of the brother and sister was warm and hearty-and all recollection of grey hats or whitestreaked cows seemed banished from their recollection. What a strange thing it would be after all if aunt Barbara's eyes had deceived her! George had scarcely ended his narration and had hurried Mary off to some other room, when the sonorous voice of Abraham Slocock startled Mr Hubble from a brown study by announcing Mr Whiffle. He was a tall man, solemnly drest in pepper and salt, with a lightcoloured wig whose smooth combed locks rested on his shoulders. His nose was ornamented with a pair of uncommonly large spectacles, and his whole appearance was not unlike that of Mr Liston in the character of Dominie Sampson. Though there was something ludicrous in his first address, Mr Hubble was too much of a philosopher to have a worse opinion of him on that account, and received him with great cordiality and respect.

"Your trunk has arrived some time," he said, after a few preliminary

common places," and if you approve of the bed-room I have designated for your occupation, it shall be carried up to it immediately."

"I have no choice of rooms. Diogenes lived in a tub," replied Mr Whiffle.

"True, sir, and I hope you join me in my admiration of that illustrious philosopher, who, in a state of manners the most effeminate and depraved, taught the simplicities of life both by precept and example. Do you believe, sir, that his father was banished from Sinope as a passer of counterfeit coin?" "I've no proofs," replied Mr Whif fle."Quinctilian, indeed"

"Well, sir, I will yield to any opinion of the Rhetorician of Calagurris." "He says," continued Mr Whiffle"But if you really want a disquisition on the subject, I shall be happy to furnish you with one at some future time. Meanwhile, if you desire any information on matters so simple, allow me to refer you to my Famulus, whom you have already seen. Are you acquainted with the ancient Punic?"

"I regret to say," answered Mr Hubble, "that, with the exception of the scene in Plautus, I don't know a word of it."

"I'll teach it you; but, in the meantime, will you introduce me to my pupil? I am anxious to begin the duties of my office."

Mr Hubble did not altogether like the cavalier manner in which he was turned over to the servant for the resolution of his doubts on the family history of Diogenes, nor the boastful offer of instruction in Phoenician, but yielded with his usual good-nature, and accompanied his guest in search of George Hope.

There was something so amusing to that young gentleman in the grotesque appearance of his tutor, that he did not show such indignation at the assumption of authority by Mr Whiffle as might have been expected; and when we consider the deference paid him by Mr Hubble, the silent awe of Mary Hope, and the rapturous admiration of Aunt Barbara, we must conclude that the learned pedagogue had no reason to be dissatisfied with his reception. A few hours wore off the awkwardness of a first meeting under such circumstances, and by the time dinner was concluded Mr Hubble saw clearly that his new inmate was the

most deep read of mankind, or at least had the most learned domestic; Aunt Barbara was fascinated with his studied compliments and attentions, and even George Hope began to consider him not quite the useless bookworm he had at first believed him, more particularly as he gave a very good account of the Priam colt at Newmarket, in answer to a question by Mr Hubble on the nature of the Pythic games. On ordinary occasions Ignatius betook himself to his couch, or at least to his bedroom, at a very early hour. This night, however, he prolonged his sitting in the drawingroom till past nine o'clock, and even then only bade the party good-night, when Abraham Slocock begged to speak with him for a few minutes alone.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Abraham, "to leave so good a master, but I must give you warning."

Why, Abraham?-has any one offended you?-have I?"

"Oh not you, sir; I will say that you are a perfect gentleman, and a very good master to me, though they say you're as great a scholar as the best."

"Though I'm a scholar? explain yourself."

"Well, then, there a'int no use to mince the matter; we all know that Latin is the devil's language, and we ha'nt no doubt that that e're fam'lus, as he calls himself, of Mr Whiffle, is an imp of Satan."

"Because he speaks Latin ?—I feel ashamed at such super"

"Ashamed or not, sir, Molly and me ca'nt stay in the house with him; he has converted the morals of half the maids already-I seed him myself a kissing of our old cook."

"Indeed? but, after all, it may be only a peculiarity of the young man ; or, more likely, a translation into visible signs, for the edification of the uneducated, of the old proverb, Abraham, which says He that loves good dishes kisses the cook— Qui dapibus datur coquam osculatur.'

"But then, sir," continued Abraham," Jane Marsel, Miss Mary's maid, ain't cook, and he did exactly the same to her. And for the matter of that, he tried the same trick with Molly herself-but she hit him such a pelt on the side of the head, he'll remember it the longest day he has to live."

"Strange that such frivolity," mused Mr Hubble," should be joined to so much erudition. His knowledge of the Greek measures is amazing."

"So it is of the English, sir,-particularly quarts-he has drunk a whole gallon of your honour's best October, and is hollowing out as loud as he can for cold swizzle and cigars."

"I regret to say I have none of the latter"

"But he has given me the key of his master's trunk, where he tells me there's a whole box of them. I've got the trunk here, sir."

Abraham fitted the key to the lock. "Stop!" exclaimed Mr Hubble; "are the cigars his own property? They're in his master's keeping." "No, sir, they're in his keeping, so that's all right enough; sich things is always parquisites."

"Well, then," said Ignatius, who was willing to be convinced by even less cogent arguments than those of Mr Slocock, so anxious was he to see the learned stores of his respected inmate, "but be careful not to injure the rolls of manuscripts, or the valuable editions of the classics; gently, Abraham, I trust there is a copy of his own immortal work on education among them."

Thus permitted, Abraham lifted up the lid, but no papers met the view. Shirts, cravats, silk waistcoats, a gay and brilliant wardrobe, and at last, near the bottom of the trunk, to the delight of the examiners, a volume or two, and an open letter. Eagerly were the precious spoils laid hold of. But alas! the printed ones consisted only of the Racing Calender,-the Sporting Magazine,-" "the Better's Ready Reckoner of Odds up to a Hundred"-and the Army List.

"He must be engaged in some enquiry into the sports of the ancients," said Ignatius.

"His sports lie more among the young ones," answered Abraham.

"The letter will perhaps explain," continued the master. "Let me see ; it has no address, and is signed Terrence O'Donahue. Who is he? I know no scholar of that name."

"Dear Atty,-Your jolly old governor has given me a commission to pick up an old fellow of the name of

"Troth is he,' said he (and I saw in a moment he was a countryman of mine) and his long home, too; for we've jist come from the berrying.'

"Ah! my dear,' said I, I'm sorry; for I wanted him for tutor for a friend's friend, and I dont know what to say to him.'

"You can just give my master's compliments,' said the youth-a real Kerry boy, his name is Dermont Brady and say he is particularly engaged.'

"And this strikes me to be a good piece of advice, so you can deliver that same message, and look out among the dons of Cambridge"

At this point of the letter Mr Hubble stopt, and no wonder, for the epistle fell out of his hands, and his eyes were fixed in the extremity of amazement on the ceiling.

"What can possibly be the meaning of all this? Who is the tall man in the spectacles?"

"Brother, I should think, to the fam'lus in the kitchen," suggested Abraham," for he's playing just the some game in the parlour that the other is doing below. I seed him squeezing Miss Barbara's hand all the time of tea."

"My sister's? nonsense!"

"It's no nonsense," continued the observant Slocock; " and I seed him a-whispering up in the corner behind the harp with Miss Mary, when you was a talking Greek to the fam❜lus at the sofa."

"You amaze me!-I begin to have suspicions that we are deceived in some extraordinary manner."

"I never knowed no good come of Latin, or any of them tongues."

"Silence!" said Mr Hubble. "I will find out the mystery. Accompany me once more into the drawing. room."