his defences, as they boasted, and were got to him, persuading him to take a run with them to town, in order to shake off the blue devils, and to see a little of life; and F meaning kindly, no doubt, offered him a place in his carriage, a room in his house, and a silver ticket to several places of entertainment in town."

"And what was Edgar saying to all this?" asked Marten.

"What," returned Mansfield, "could have been expected of one so soft as poor Bonville, neglected as he has been by all of you for the last hour, but that, feeling himself drowning, he should catch at the first straw which he saw floating on the water? But hasten," he said, "Milner, you are his friend, you can do more with him than any one. In at that gate, through the quadrangle, the first door to the right up the stairs, and Bonville's rooms are opposite to you."

"Do," said Marten, " run forward."

"We will follow, with serious steps and slow," added Mansfield. But Henry staid not to hear, but running as directed, he was presently on the landing-place opposite to Edgar's door, which was half open, and from which proceeded the sound of Wellings' voice. "That will do, by George," were the first words which Henry heard. "Give them the go by; to-morrow we shall be at liberty-till then- At this instant

Henry entered and stood in view of the group, which consisted of Lord F-, seated on a sofa, as the great man of the party, with his legs resting on the table; Edgar Bonville leaning in a sorrowful attitude against the chimney-piece, and

Wellings standing up, and declaiming, as it were, for the other two.

Henry advanced, neither noticing the nobleman nor regarding the finger which he extended to him from the sofa, nor heeding the "holloa" with which Wellings accosted him, calling him the hero of the sun and the champion of the feline race; but going straight forwards to Edgar, hardly restrained himself from rushing to his arms, although perfectly acquainted with the ridicule which would be cast on such an action by those then present. As he took Bonville's hand, however, he said, "Do not be uneasy, dear Edgar, you are to go to-morrow to happy Worcestershire, and there we are to study together, and to forget this Oxford till we are forced to come to it again. It is all settled, your mother approves the plan, and you can set off as soon as you are set at liberty in this place."

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Very good, Master Henry Milner," said Wellings; "I think you are not yet matriculated; when you are so it shall be Mr. Milner; but I have an idea-I have an inkling, that it is not impossible that Bonville's plans may not altogether fall in with those which you have suggested-may it not be, my lord ?" and the youth turned his person round and winked at Lord F, at the same time smiling and nodding significantly.

Lord F- gaped when thus addressed, drew his feet deliberately from off the table, gaped again, and sat up erect; then stretching himself, he raised up his whole frame into the perpendicular, and said, “ Wellings-Wellings, what's o'clock ?"

"A time-piece, my lord," replied the wit. "New," returned the nobleman, "perfectly new-but what says the enemy? Answer me for once, without any of your slang, Wellings,

if

you can."

66

Then, my lord," replied the other, "I must use another tongue from that in which your noble self put the question."

In reply to this, my lord took out his gold repeater, and having struck it, he nodded his adieu to Edgar, saying, "You know where and when to find me, Bonville;" then slipping his hand through Wellings' arm, the two young men went out at the door, encountering Marten and Mansfield on the stairs.

Thus the coast was clear for Edgar's real friends, and the very weakness or softness of the young man's character rendered it the more easy for them to induce him to do that which was not only so clearly for his good, but for his present happiness.

So firm and steady were these his true friends, that they would not leave him until he had written a note to Lord F- to thank him for his intended kindness, and to inform 'him of his change of plans. By all this it will appear that Edgar's defeat was no doubtful case, although his superiors had added as little that was painful as possible to the decision they had been forced to come to.

Marten and Mansfield then, having persuaded Edgar to barricado himself more strongly in his rooms than he had done before, while he packed and made arrangements for his journey, took their leave, Henry having engaged to call upon

him at five o'clock to bring him to the inn, where Mr. Dalben had ordered a dinner, to which he had invited several of his young friends. Marten and Mansfield then went in search of a tutor to attend Bonville into Worcestershire, whilst Henry joined his uncle at the inn, from which Mrs. Bonville was already gone.

Mr. Dalben then took Henry with him to see him matriculated. The college which Mr. Dalben had chosen was that to which Marten belonged, and which also had the honour of having been adopted by Lord F-'s father for his son, though before that son was noble, or ever expected so to be.

It

Everything had been previously arranged for Henry's reception by Mr. Russell, one of the tutors, and also a cousin of Mrs. Bonville. was unfortunate that Mr. Russell, having been suddenly called away by some family matter, was absent at the time, as Mr. Dalben wished for the opportunity of introducing Henry to him; but the necessary forms were soon completed, and when Henry returned to the inn, he was H. Milner, Esq., of College, Oxford. In enumerating Henry's acquaintance in this same college, Wellings must not be omitted, for he also was there, and of Marten's standing: Bonville and Mansfield belonged to another college.

When Mr. Dalben returned to the Angel, he found Mr. Mansfield, waiting there to tell him that he had found a tutora young man of immense industry, and highly spoken of as a most indefatigable drudge, of the description denominated a trotter, and one who had worked

himself on by hard industry and painful selfdenial, having no connexions and a slender purse. Mr. Mansfield had known him some years, and was ready to answer for the integrity of his character: he described him as another Simpson of Clent Green for his punctuality and dogged perseverance; but at the same time he prepared Mr. Dalben to see a somewhat singular personage, one of uncouth manners and appearance, and of such slovenly habits as not to be very unlike an old Polyglot in time-stained

calf-skin.

Mr. Dalben having weighed the pros and cons of this description, decided upon engaging the young man, as he was quite aware that perfection was not to be met with in a tutor, although it has been asserted that there are female teachers, who fall very little below that standard.

Mr. Mansfield then hastened to inform Mr. Ladbrook of the success of his mission, for the young man was at Oxford, at a certain hall, which shall be nameless, where he was completing another short term, and at seven o'clock he returned with him to the inn, where he found Mr. Dalben, Marten, Henry, and poor Edgar Bonville.

Edgar had been gradually becoming more calm and easy ever since the plan of the Worcestershire journey had been suggested. He had suffered a severe pressure from feeling himself brought under the eye of the world, and made subject to its comments; but from the time Henry had spoken to him of Mr. Dalben's kindness, he felt that he was still an object of compassion and love, and that he was yet dear