have been refreshing with a cup of tea. | he wouldn't do it ; and yet she might not do Will you come and do likewise? It is anything at all to make him understand very hard upon us fellows who have how acceptable his affection would be. passed our youth to have these whirligig dances come into fashion. I could foot a hornpipe when I was a middy, and steer a craft through a country-dance as well as any pilot going, hands across, you know, down the middle and up again, lots of life in that — and now I can manage to walk through a quadrille; but old timbers would never stand twirling at that pace. Everything getting too fast, by George, I say! dancing on shore like teetotums, and sending hulls through the water with steam: all a mistake, depend on it; we shall have to come back to reasonable, sensible ways."

-

"But the waltz is very delightful, I assure you, with a partner, who, as you say, knows how to steer a craft."

"Then I shall say no more on that head, except to regret that when I passed as able to knot, reef, and steer, the art of navigating a maelstrom was not considered a necessary part of education. Our friend Miss Tarraway is not dancing so much as usual to-night."

She had heard and read of shrewd observers who had penetrated secrets like hers, and by a word of well-timed exhortation or explanation had made everything smooth, and put two people in the way of making each other happy. Was there nobody to act the part of the kind fairy? Anon she would lose all patience with her beloved for being so obtuse and impassible, and then blame herself for blaming him, be overcome with tenderness, and cry again as if her heart would break.

Mr. Benjamin Saunders, as he rode. home on the evening before mentioned, did not feel that his visit to Colkatton had been very efficacious indeed he felt subdued and discouraged to a degree with which his sanguine nature was not familiar. By the time he got home he had decided that there were difficulties in his way, unlike what he had ever before encountered in paying his addresses, and that he was a donkey for ever thinking of a thing so hard of achievement. This was very like giving up the idea alto

"No indeed. As Mr. Norcott does not dance, Lydia and he appear to be en-gether; and when he began to think of joying each other's company in the sitting-down way."

"Happy curate! she has given up her waltzes to talk to him."

Hardinge came to see Gertrude to her carriage; but though she was glad to lean on his arm for only a minute or two, she was too well assured of his indifference, after the tone in which he had spoken of his departure, to go home with a lightened heart because he came to bid her good-night. Her spirit, which had endured so well while she was under the eyes of others, gave way as soon as she was alone, and the poor girl wept tears of poignant mortification. She felt certain that she must love the young officer forever, and could never love any one else; and she began to contemplate a heroic martyrdom, and to think about "the rose i' the bud," and "Patience on a monument," and so on. Poor soul! proud science never taught her to stray into the doctrines of woman's rights, but there did arise in her breast a little rebellious feeling against the restrictions to which her sex was subject. For when the idea of a martyrdom and smiling at grief began to look less captivating on further acquaintance, she asked herself who could say that, if the notion of falling in love with her once were suggested to Hardinge,

the many quarters in which his attentions would be acceptable, he felt already consoled to some extent, and able to put aside his chagrin. He was kind and affable to his mother that evening, told her all about the grate, and what he proposed to do with it, and entered into two or three business matters so as quite to delight the poor old lady, who could not help expressing her satisfaction; which having done at some length, she unfortunately reverted to his flippant mention of Miss Fulford the night before, and proceeded to point out the folly of it.

"It may sound very free and independent, my son," said she, "but I never knowed any good to come of it. Gentry folks may bend theirselves to we, but us mustn't never presume nothing with them. Well they know the difference betwixt us, and never forgets it. ney is chayney, and crockery is crockery."

Chay

His mortification returned when the young man found himself alone at night. He asked himself what could ever have set him on such a quest, and wondered how the deuce a sharp fellow like him, who could be so successful on his own level should have invited such humiliation. And then he remembered that it was his dream that had tempted him; and, his

to show that the condescension was great and exceptional. With all their broad base, the members could not produce a decent field of cricketers; and in order to insure play they were compelled to invite young men of all grades, down to mechanics and labourers, to join the sport, although these were not members. Now Benjamin, after his year at Plymouth, where he learned to play cricket if he did not acquire much book-lore, was frequently honoured by an invitation to "play with the club," which he highly prized; and once or twice when Wetton played Muggytown or Slushton, he had been of the eleven, having some reputation as a bowler, which reputation was set against another reputation which he bore of being a forward and not particu

mind once turned again to the dream, he couldn't help going over all its scenes, which came up now as vividly as when they were first presented. Once more he realized the blissful feelings produced by the vision, and felt his whole nature stirred by the touch of the old peer, and the sight of his coronet. "After all, could I be so wrong?" inquired Benjamin of himself; "that dream meant something -I'll be hanged if it didn't! There was no promise that all this jolly catch of fish was to be had without a little trouble and patience, or perhaps without a little disappointment, only that it is to be had; and by George! it's worth putting up with something for." His ambition revived, you see, as he reflected on the dream, and with it came a sense of shame at being so easily downcast. He had larly agreeable young person. Hitherto probably begun rashly and injudiciously; he would now set to work with more forethought. A moderate amount of rumination showed him that his main difficulty arose from his inferior station in life; and he was painfully impressed by his mother's remark about chayney and crockery. But then, although there was no denying that crockery is crockery, it was equally undeniable that crockery might by clever alchemy be transmuted to chayney. In brief, he perceived that the first step towards the attainment of his object must be social advancement for himself. This would have been difficult to most men in his position; but, as we have seen, he was bold and prompt. He did not let a day pass before he put an iron in the fire, as he called it.

he had been quite proud of this lefthanded alliance with the club; but now when he began to cast about for a lift up the social ladder, he felt that the full rights of membership must form the first rung for him to mount by; accordingly he began to think over the possible means of reaching this dignity. His father's friend, and his own early preceptor, the schoolmaster, had a son of about Benjamin's age. This son had been wrought into a good mathematician, and sent to Cambridge, where he came out as a senior " "op." Before taking orders, which was his destination, he had come home to spend a little time with his family; and the club, unsolicited, had shown its sense of the credit which he had brought to Wetton by electing him a memWetton boasted of a club, such as ber. Now this young Coryton (or Carryclubs in those days were. The Wetton ten as they were commonly called, partly Association played cricket and made ex- from ignorant corruption of the name, cursions (sometimes giving picnics) in and partly from the frequency of carrying the summer; in winter it played cards ten in the old gentleman's instructions) once a-week and supped. Its meetings was a sort of link between Benjamin and were held at the hotel. In order that it the club. They had played in the Wetmight be kept going at all, it had to be ton gutters together, stolen apples in established on a somewhat broad basis. concert, been, under a common sentence, The auctioneer, appraiser, and land-sur- wellnigh flayed (for old Carryten generveyor (one and the same person) was a ally left his mark upon offenders, and member, so was the cashier of the bank, didn't spare his own flesh), and were still so was the teacher of music and church great friends. Ben was not aware of organist, so was the young man who having reflected credit on his native place came originally to lecture at the Wetton except by his appearance and general Institution, and then remained to in-style; but in every other respect he struct youthful Wetton in Euclid, trig- might aspire to the club as well as Coryonometry, the use of the Gunter's chain, ton. He thought, too, it would only be and geology. But for all that, it claimed reasonable of his friend to propose him, to be a very blue-blooded society indeed; and so he asked him to do him that faand if, like other orders of that kind, it vour. Coryton, although he could do anyOccasionally admitted a somewhat doubt-thing with figures and quantities short of ful candidate from necessity, it took care squaring the circle, was very much Ben264

LIVING AGE.

VOL. VI.

jamin's inferior in point of assurance. "Well, then, Ben, he is likely to be He would have preferred at most times expanded and raised to the nth power of not to put himself forward in the affairs graciousness to-morrow evening, when of the club; but, elected as he had been, the tradesmen's club are going to preand that very recently, he saw a peculiar sent him with a snuff-box; catch him impropriety in attempting to introduce after that, and he'll be cleared of fracanother member from his own stratum of tions and surds, and prepared to be dealt society. Thus he was made excessively with by any process that you like." uncomfortable by Benjamin's request, and hardly knew how to answer it. "Look here, Ben," he said, after some hesitation; don't fancy, old chap, that I wouldn't be delighted to have you a member, because I would, and you ought to know that I would; but you know I doubt if my bringing you forward would be the best means to insure success. Your chance of election would be much | better if your name were put up by one of the older members."

think it over, my son." And Tom knew | got beat the hardest, though, perhaps, very well that his father's interest was they wanted it the most." (Mr. Saunders gained for his friend.

silenced. Cheers from quarters that had It was a fortunate thing for young been quiet before.) "Well, as I was saySaunders that he was induced to attend ing, young and old have good reason to the tradesmen's meeting. A very unfa- respect and valley him, independent of vourable impression would have been what we as a body feel. But it is as the given if, on this first meeting of the soci- clerk of this club that we are now regardety after his father's death, and on this ing of him-a club that has been prosopportunity of doing honour to his old pering for more than twenty year, and a schoolmaster and his father's friend, he club that, I may safely say, never would had absented himself, as he certainly had have prospered, nor never would have intended to do; for he thought that now lasted to this day at all, if it hadn't been when he was resolved to move on a high- for the good management, and good er level, the less he had to do with the sense, and good feeling of our friend old low level the better which, I am what I am speaking of. Mr. Carryten, afraid, was no proof of his fitness for so- sir, in the name of the club, which feels cial promotion. At all events, there he greatly beholden to you, I request you to was, and nobody had a right to suppose accept of this box, a trifle in itself, but a that he didn't come with all his heart. weighty matter if you take account of all The members, all in their simple way, the hearty good-will that we give 'long evinced sympathy with him, and he was with it. May you live many, many years, asked to be one of the half-dozen picked sir, to make use of this small present, members who stood out to receive old and may every new year find you inCarryten, the guest of the evening. Ben creased in prosperity and in public estiwas rather pleased that he had come. He mation." The speaker then made a couldn't help being friendly when every-graceful allusion to the honours acquired body was so cordial; and I fancy that he by Mr. Tom Coryton, and drank to the made himself very agreeable, pulling out health and prosperity of Mr. Coryton and a cigar when they were all taking their family. pipes, and damning the infernal punch, which he said was made with British rum and rotten lemons-not being considered ill breeding, but rather a proof of familiarity with the beau monde.

66

The presentation of the snuff-box was done by the president, a jolly old hardware man, who, in tendering the gift and proposing old Carryten's health, didn't try to be a bit fine, but spoke up just as he would on any ordinary night; and, prompted by a full and honest heart, was very effective. "We are wishful," said the chairman in the course of his address, "of showing our regard and esteem for a gentleman, an old friend, who has been amongst us now more'n thirty year-ay, more 'n thirty year (for the time shoots away). There isn't but one or two in the room besides me can mind his coming, but every one in the room'll say 'twas a fortinate thing he did come. To the older ones he has proved an honest and kind friend, and the younger have learned to respect him as an instructor so well as to love him as a friend, for there isn't one under thirty but have passed under his hand." (Great applause and drumming on the table at this last remark, Mr. Saunders contributing liberally to the noise.) "Thewse that cried loudest wasn't, I believe, always they that

Old Carryten's hand trembled a good deal as he received the box, and he spent some time looking over it and admiring it, and then expressing his admiration of some of its workmanship, and of the gracious inscription, to those who sat next him, while the whole company hemmed and blew their noses and fidgeted until he should get on his legs, which he was in no particular hurry to do.

A man severe he was, and stern to view; I knew him well, and every truant knew. That was true enough; but then he wasn't always severe and stern, and he wasn't always stern when he was severe. I have known him sometimes, when taking the rind off a young gentleman's loins (for, bless you, we were not squeamish about a little excoriation in those days), convulse his pupils - the subject of his discipline excepted with irresistible jokes. And, when he was clear of the school altogether, it was astonishing what good company he could be, what fun there was in him, what capital stories he could tell. He had a fair tenor voice, too, though it had begun to crack by this time, and was commonly asked for a song or two on festive occasions. He was cer tainly not liable in a general way to be overcome by his feelings; but somehow,

on this occasion he not only postponed at the tradesmen's club, and the old felas long as he could the acknowledgment low's emotion, it strikes me that he may of the flattering gift, but when he did get have had a sense of a hard and laborious up, he took refuge at first in a little fun. life devoted to duty according to his Gentlemen," said he, “I have been in lights, with mighty small material reward, the habit of giving boxes for many ears, and with only the consciousness that he but never till this year has a box like this was useful in his generation to support been given to me." This brightened the him; also, that deep down in his breast whole company again in a moment; there under the stony and scarifying strata, lay was scarcely a pair of ears among them a yearning for an encouraging word or that didn't tingle at the jeu d'esprit. The two, for some small appreciation of the laughter was loud, and the applause very devotion which kept him like a mill-horse hearty. The merriment had a composing forever at his grinding labour. effect on the speaker, who, being quite in Well, everybody was affected, and, forhis element, spoke of his early acquaint- tunately for Mr. Saunders, it was his alance with Wetton, and told one or two of lotted duty to break the awkward silence his very best stories, with voice imita- by rising to propose the health of Mrs. tions, about some of the local characters. Coryton. The subduing influence of the Though this was very effective, and de- recent scene kept him within bounds, lighted his audience, he knew very well and he made his little speech very nicely, that he was only postponing the dreaded and was rewarded by a glance out of old response to the genial old hardware- Coryton's eyes such as he had never man's gracious personalities. It had to before seen proceeding from those orbe made, however, and as soon as he got gans. They finished the evening very on that subject, it was evident that he merrily: the schoolmaster wrung everywould, even in the presence of his old body's hand at parting; and when Saunscholars, betray a weakness most deroga-ders offered his company on the walk tory to the character which he had hith-home it was graciously accepted. In that erto maintained among them. He made auspicious quarter of an hour the young two or three acknowledgments, very man opened his mind. feebly, and in a somewhat broken voice; took a pinch of snuff and a sip of punch; went at it again; got out one or two sentences with great gulps in them; and at last old Carryten broke down utterly and ignominiously, subsided into his seat and covered his eyes with his hands, while the table rang with plaudits, Kentish fire, the jingling of glasses, and finally a very boisterous performance of the chorus, "For he is a jolly good fellow." Poor old Carryten! perhaps if more kindness had come his way before, more expression of feeling might have come out of him! But how could that have been, I should like to know? To all of my generation, and to all our mothers, who saw our welts and bruises, he was the very impersonation of cane and rod. He has cut the buttons from my jacket aforetime, and sent me to my seat with my shirt sticking to my back. All admitted that he would drive knowledge into any mind whatever capable of receiving it, and 1 suspect that Maga's compositors have been indebted to him for the legible MSS. of more than one contributor; but it has taken a long life to raise in my mind a suspicion even that any feeling softer than fear and obedience would have been acceptable from his scholars. And yet, when I come now to think of that night

I

"I don't think," said the old gentleman, "that it would be well for either you or Tom, Benjamin, that he should be your proposer," and he gave reasons for this opinion similar to those which Tom had given. "But," added he, "perhaps if Tom can't manage it, I can. assure you we both desire to serve you, - he an old friend, I an old scholar and, provided you obtain your wish, I don't suppose you mind exactly by what agency the thing is worked. Leave it to me. And now, good night: I hope the evening has been as pleasant to you as it has been to me."

He

Ben knew that old Carryten wouldn't talk in that way unless he saw his way pretty clearly to attainment; but how he was to pass a not quite eligible friend into a society of which he wasn't himself a member wasn't quite apparent. went to sleep, however, very tranquilly upon the assurance which he had received, but before doing so, had very much fortified his resolution to realize the dream.

We will not follow old Carryten through his negotiations on Benjamin's behalf. There might be some amusement in doing so, but it would carry us too far from the trunk-line of our story. His mode of operating was this.

There were