rewarded with another flagellation, which, so far from curing him of his propensity to mischief, augmented his inclination that way and involved his preceptor in freshtrouble and humiliation.

He purchased a quantity of jalap, which he found means to infuse into a mess of milk-porridge (design'd for Mr. O'Demagogue's breakfast) and which had such an effect on the schoolmaster, that he moved backward and forward, in and out of the room, with much more velocity than he had been accustom'd to do, for some time. And, here, Philip's good genius prevail'd; for it was never known (save as far as conjecture went) who had been the apothecary.

Though it must be allow'd that the scale of retaliation turn'd in favor of our youthful champion, his life was as intolerable to him as to a galley-slave; and an event occurr'd, before he had been twelve months under the jurisdiction of O'Demagogue, which determined him no longer to submit. to his control, be the consequence what it might,

On his return from afternoon-school, he threw himself into a chair, and, after a pause, made known his resolution, not to return to O'Demagogue's school any more.

CHAPTER IV.

No disguise can long conceal love where it is, nor feign it where it is not.

ROCHEFOUCAULT.

FOUR years roll'd away, without any material change in the situation, or sentiments, of Philip, (who was now fifteen) when an accident occurr'd, that eventually produced a resolution in both, by removing him from the humble walk of life, in which he had, hitherto, moved, with much reluctance.

Near the village of Oakendale, lived Sir James Proby, lord of the manor, justice of the peace, and custos rotolorum; as worthy a character as ever gain'd the esteem of his fellow-creatures. By him, the needy vagrant was never wantonly committed to a loathsome prison, the child of poverty never

left his gate unbefriended, nor was the humble petitioner answer'd with the superciliousness of puff'd-up power. But, where he ascertain❜d a being worthy of punishment, within his jurisdiction, that punishment was made exemplary whether the object were

in an exalted or low station. In short, he was the friend of virtue, and the scourge of vice; the opponent of the wealthy tyrant, the champion of the oppress'd poor; the aged bless'd Sir James Proby, and even children were taught to lisp his name with gratitude.

Sir James was the son of a clergyman, who, having a large family, and no independent fortune, placed him, at an early age, in the compting-house of an eminent merchant, in the city of London. There he soon recommended himself so strongly, by his application to business, and conciliating manners, that his patron tender'd him the hand of his niece, and a moiety of the concern. This offer was gratefully accepted by the young man, (who had long admired the modest demeanor of the lady), and they were united, to the great

joy of the old merchant; who died, soon after seeing his wish accomplish'd, leaving the bulk of his vast property to young Proby.

He, after a few years, grew weary of business, and retired to the village of Oakendale, where his father-in-law had possess'd the same estate; but, previous to his departure from the metropolis, he had been created a baronet; nor did he now quit his present place of residence, save when his parliamentary duty call'd him to town. He had, not long since, follow'd an amiable wife to her long home; whose loss he never ceased to lament, and who left him one, only, child—we wish we could say the inheritor of her virtues! Elijah Proby was, when even a boy, artful and designing, cowardly, and insolent; bullying those lads who would submit to his imperious temper, and busy in secretly vilifying such as opposed him yet, was he so consummate a hypocrite, that his fond father thought him endow'd with every valuable quality the human heart can boast.

In Sir James's family was also included