settled down again in their usual routine; and so peacefully, and we trust improvingly, did the time pass, that the period arrived for the removal of the young gentlemen to Oxford, before it appeared to Marten or Henry that they had been in Worcestershire one month.

CHAPTER XI.

The catastrophe of the Tea-kettle.

It is not the intention of the historian to satisfy the reader on one especial point, viz. to what college Henry Milner belonged-the fact may be easily ascertained by a person examining the university books; but whilst so many individuals are in existence who were Henry's cotemporaries at Oxford, care must be used lest offence may be given where none is intended. At the same time we give to any person, whether of high or low degree, who either now appertains to the great university, or might be supposed to have appertained thereunto at the time Henry Milner was actually there or might have been there, free permission to take offence at any passage which may seem to hit him in a tender place; and if such individual will have the kindness to make his disapprobation known in any public paper, the writer of these memoirs will acknowledge the obligation, in the assurance that nothing whatever so much increases the sale of a work as a well-penned censure from an eminent and distinguished character. But although it is not intended to point out the

name of Henry's college, yet it must not be left in doubt who amongst his former companions were with him in that college. If he were associated there with the one of all his young companions whom he loved best, he had with him also the one he would last have chosen: the first being Marten, the second Wellings. Lord F- too, was of the same college: but as Henry had never been at school with him, he was the less affected by his presence, or rather, expected so to be. Lord F--, Marten, and Wellings had passed their little go, and Marten had taken his so quietly, that scarcely any of his friends not in Oxford knew when it had taken place. It had occurred at the end of the former year. Lord F and Bonville were nearly of the same standing; but Lord F-- had put off going up for the last examination, merely from carelessness; his intention, however, was to do so before the next Christmas vacation, but he took the matter coolly; he was a nobleman, and as he was by no means deficient, he was pretty well assured that all would pass off secundis avibus.

Of Henry's other young friends, Edgar and Edward Mansfield were together, Mr. Ladbrook was at his hall, and poor Clayton not come up, being still in a somewhat bruised and battered condition. Wellings' time, it should be remarked, would be run out at the same crisis as that of Marten; hence it was so arranged, that as the one was associated with the other in his progress through Clent Green, so also were they to be companions during their passage through the university. Now to pass over the journey,

and the uneasy feelings with which Henry left Mr. Dalben, of whose increasing infirmities he could not be unconscious; also not to enter upon the various ceremonials which must necessarily take place at the inauguration of all freshmen; it is our pleasure to shut ourselves up in Henry's rooms a little before the hour of commons, with our hero himself, who had just put off his gown and cap, and his friend Marten, whilst the latter initiated Henry more into the politics of the college than he had ever done before. But first, it must be observed, that Henry's rooms were on the groundfloor, looking into the street, it being a private rule of the manager of these matters to allot apartments so situated to men whose steadiness might be best depended upon. Marten's rooms were at another end of the quadrangle, and the young men had agreed to take their breakfast alternately with each other. Lord F-'s rooms answered to Henry's on the other side of the gate, it being understood, that although not a serious man, he was above any such low tricks as might bring disrepute on his college. Wellings' rooms also were not very remote, but they opened on the quadrangle. But to return to what passed between Marten and Henry. "To say nothing of our big wigs," said Marten, "our principes, our magistri, our proctors, &c. &c.; our tutors, our graduates, and other dons; the noli me tangeres of the Alma Mater, I must tell you that we have three parties amongst ourselves, as well as certain odd fellows who cannot be classified, certain animals so wrapped up in the thick atmosphere

of their own dullness, that it is lost labour even to attempt to quiz them."

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Ay!" said Henry, "are you condescending to quote Wellings, Marten? for I think it was that worthy who said at Clent Green that there was no fun in quizzing one who was unconscious of the affront."

"I beg," said Marten, "that you will not put Wellings' sentiments in my mouth; but to go on with my classifications, which are thus denominated amongst us, the gentlemen, the snobs, and the saints. It is very amusing, Milner, to see how instinctively every freshman falls into his proper class, and herds with his own kind-gregatim conveniunt."

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"Of course, then," said Henry, you congregate with the gentlemen, and Wellings with the snobs."

"I am sorry to say," replied Marten, "that sometimes Wellings intrudes his vulgar phiz amongst us; he sticks as close to F

as a

burr to a man's coat. Wherefore F— should bear with him as he does I cannot conceive, unless, as I have heard, old Wellings makes himself useful to the young lord, when he wants to raise a little more money than his father allows him, but this is no affair of ours. However, certain it is, that although Wellings herds with his kind in private, in public he is always with F, and the impudent fellow, in consequence, is full in my view every day at commons."

"But," said Henry," in which of your three flocks am I to cry, ba?" "Does not your instinct assist you to answer