despatched my letters to the Soapers, and it set me upon re-considering the whole subject. The conclusion at which I arrived was this, that it was my duty, not only to the tenants, but to the landlord himself, not to leave him in ignorance of the state of things; and that as I had failed in my appeal to Mr. Tite, it behoved me to carry it on to his master. Perhaps the Marquis would rate me, as his steward had, for my impertinent interference, and complain of me to the Vicar. Perhaps (as present appearances suggest) he would not answer my letter. "But I must do my duty," so I said to myself, 66 as well as I can, and put consequences out of consideration." And thereupon, I sat down and wrote my letter, telling my tale as simply as I could. Four days have elapsed since I despatched it, but there has been no reply. Meanwhile, I have heard from the Vicar, and though his words are kind, it is not difficult to see what he thinks of me, and my proceedings in his absence.

"DEAR MR. DOVE,

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Brighton. Tuesday.

"The man who does not sympathise in the sufferings of a fellow-pilgrim, through this vale of tears (even though those sufferings should have been produced by his own misconduct,-misconduct aggravated by the crime of ingratitude) deserves the condemnation of all who are actuated by motives of philanthropy, and therefore it is needless to assure you, that your communication relating to that sad scoundrel, Isaac Ashe, has received my full share of compassionate attention.

"In fact, my dear sir, I was never more disposed to feel for others than when your letter reached me, being myself in a state of great suffering. You know how unceasingly I am harassed by dyspepsia; and whether it was a pork pie that I fancied at

Wolverton, which disagreed with me, or whether, as Mrs. Soaper thinks, I was guilty of some little indiscretion in taking dressed crab (timballes, au velouté) too late at night, I cannot tell, but the results were very distressing, and have quite prevented me hitherto from deriving that benefit from change of air, for which I had hoped: in fact my medical attendant quite thinks that a prolonged absence from home may be necessary.

"But I must proceed, my dear sir, to the main subject of your letter, and confess to you that it has filled me with dismay, and with the gravest apprehensions as to the probability of your ministerial success as Curate of Roost. That you should have given offence within a few days after your arrival to so influential a person as my excellent, and highly respectable friend, Mr. Tite, is a subject of the deepest distress to Mrs. Soaper and myself, and you will not be surprised to hear, that I have written to him to exonerate myself from all imputations as being cognizant of your unfortunate application, and, so far as I could, to apologize for a step which could only have emanated from youth and inexperience. My esteem for that exemplary nobleman, the Marquis of Kingsbury, is so great, that I could not reconcile it to my principles to give my countenance to anything that would afford him a moment's annoyance, and though of course Mr. Tite is too kind-hearted to expose you to his Lordship, on account of this indiscretion, I am sure you will see the propriety of never making such an application again.

66

Happily Mr. Tite is aware that Isaac Ashe and his ill-conducted family are my particular aversion. The wretched creatures have been breaking all laws, human and divine, as well as my hedges, for years past. It is notorious that the man's father was transported for sheep-stealing, and I make no

doubt that Isaac is one of a gang who carried off the contents of my larder on the last Christmas Eve but one; and if it had not been for the kindness of my neighbours, I believe that on that great festival of good cheer, and general hospitality, Mrs. Soaper and I should have been obliged to dine tête-à-tête upon hasty pudding. I trust that I have as much of the spirit of Christian forgiveness as most men; but there are injuries, (and this was one of them) which may be forgiven, but cannot be forgotten.

"And further, my dear sir, you must permit me to say, that as an elder brother in the ministry, it appears to me that in the course you seem to be adopting with respect to loathsome diseases is hardly justifiable, and certainly very inexpedient,— not to say Quixotic. Of course I do not venture to prescribe to you in a matter which may be one of conscience, but I must take leave to remind you that you must expect to be excluded from all intercourse with the upper classes at Roost, if you put yourself in habitual contact with the nauseous and infectious disorders of the lower ranks. Indeed, how could I expose my beloved Martha to the risk to which she would be exposed, were I, under such circumstances, to receive you at the Vicarage? I conceive that we have a duty to ourselves, and to our neighbours. And as I have no right to throw my own life away, or to be the medium of communicating disease, I decline attendance on contagious maladies upon principle. And, in fact, one could do but little good, even if one were present, as the poor creatures are almost always delirious, or stupid, or something of the kind.

"If you will go into such scenes it must be at your own proper peril; but I would advise you always to insist on the dwellings being purified with Dr. Domdaniel Jenk's Fumigation of Salt,

Vitriol, and Cayenne Pepper, before you enter the infected houses. The vapour is very suffocating, but if the sick require your services, it is only fair to make the stipulations on which they are to be had. So let me recommend you to make that a sine quâ non.

"One of the most sensible women with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, and who is considered a first-rate authority in all matters of morality as well as fashion, told me no long while since, that she knew no stronger proofs of mental imbecility than are exemplified in the habit of haunting sick rooms, alluding to the approach of death, or speaking of the dead. Without going all lengths with my strong-minded friend, I think her sentiments sufficiently striking to be submitted to your consideration.

"I am sure, my dear Sir, you will receive my suggestions in the spirit in which they are offered, and believe in the sincere regard with which I subscribe myself,

"Your very faithful and obliged Servant, "SEPTIMUS SOAPER.

"P.S.-I regret to say that upon perusing your letter, I felt constrained to lay an embargo on your communication to Mrs. Soaper. Not knowing to what extent contagion may be conveyed through the post-office, I was obliged to commit your letter to the flames unopened; a circumstance I much regret, as I have no doubt it contained matter well worthy of perusal."

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CHAPTER V.

THE GROWTH OF EXPERIENCE.

"Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice: his reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them and when you have them, they are not worth the search."

The Merchant of Venice,

I was busy writing my sermon: my sitting-room door was open, for, in fact, I could never close it without being half-stifled with smoke, and I was conscious of hearing steps on the stairs, and in the room, but I did not look up, for I assumed that Mrs. Ferrall was come to lay the table-cloth for dinner, till, on receiving a slap on the back, I saw, to my great delight, Harry Harley standing at my side. Before, however, I could give him the welcome that rose to my lips, I observed through the haze another person standing in the doorway,-an elderly man with white hair, and, as I soon remarked, with a kind expression of countenance, and a shy manner. Why, Dove, how are you ?" cried Harry, shaking my hand, and looking in my face with a glance which made me feel that there was some mischievous joke in the background. "I've unearthed you at last, you see; and what is more, I have brought you a visitor who expresses himself anxious to be introduced to you. This is the Marquis of Kingsbury."

"Who has great pleasure in making Mr. Dove's acquaintance, and who has taken the liberty of calling to thank him for his kindness. Mr. Dove, you are a young man, and I am an old one, and so you must not be offended with me for telling you