hood proposed that we should return on foot; that having gained my father's approbation of this proposal, I had tied up my clothes in a little bundle, and set out with my companion, just at the close of the afternoon; but, having imprudently boasted of a considerable sum of money which I had obtained from my parents, I had been attacked by my companion, when at a sufficient distance from home, and easily overpowered.

"Honesty is the best policy," says the proverb; but, if so, 'tis a policy we are seldom statesmen enough to follow. It is "Diamond cut diamond," says Jeremy Levis-we commit a sin, and, becoming conscious of its deformities when too late, put another upon top of it to hide them. I say we; for if you think yourself, sweet Reader, too honourable to act so, why-you are one in a thousand, that is all! and I am glad of it from the bottom of my soul. Be that as it may, the farmer, (for such was the generous Townsend,) though a man of strong mind, and one too who had lived in the world, readily believed the lie; for dwelling near a small town, and having, therefore, seldom occasion to visit the village where I was known, he had no means of contradicting it. He left me with many expressions of condolence; and immediately his wife and daughter entered the apartment-to learn (as they said) what I would like for breakfast. The former had the good heart of her husband, but not his improved mind; and the latter was a rosy-cheeked damsel of fifteen, whose animal propensities evidently took the lead of her intellectual powers.

This excellent family paid the greatest attention to me for two days: at the end of which time feeling able to depart, I expressed myself to that effect-being unwilling to trespass longer on their hospitality. Whereupon Mr. Townsend declared his intention of taking me home in his own wagon! So I had got into a fine dilemma through my impudence!-And how to get out again? Though my modesty, to be sure; aided a little by that

humane regard for the feelings of my fellow-creatures which is so natural to me that is to say-I resolved to take leave of the family without exposing them to the pain of bidding farewell. But my Gallantry, urged by the great esteem it had ever entertained for the aforesaid Modesty, had a mind to save it the trouble: and thus it was:-Miss Townsend and Mr. Levis chanced to find themselves together in the parlour after breakfast. Papa and mama were absent. Mr. Levis appeared pleased with Miss Townsend's person; and Miss Townsend seemed delighted with Mr. Levis's. Of course they drew their chairs together, and commenced a flirtation. Mr. Levis's arm was around Miss Townsend's neck; and he was saying, and she was looking, all the soft things imaginable, when suddenly-papa entered the room. He stopped short for a moment; and turned pale; then approaching me, laid his hands on my collar, while I trembled like a chicken in the claws of the cook. "Young man!" he said, very slowly, "you have taught me a lesson in benevolence I shall never forget,”—and he drew me to the outward door; and then, thrusting me from him with such violence that I fell to the ground, added, “Go, sir!-I leave my revenge to your own conscience; and may God forgive you as readily as I do!" His words made me shudder; for passion had given him eloquence.

Directly afterward my hat and bundle threw a graceful somerset from the window; and I went on my way, glad to have come off so easily.

CHAPTER VII.

Why, Hostess! a stool here for this gentleman.

Every Man in his Humour.

I WENT on my way, glad to have come off so easily. -But the reader must not suppose I" whistled as I went.' O, no! there was no "want of thought;" that respectable gossip was far too busy for my comfort.

remembered what indignation had flushed my honest brow, in the days of my boyhood, when I read the story of Olivia :* and now-what had the events of the last hour taught me? That the self-same heart, which once would swell with anger at the mere name of seduction, could throb with lust for the very crime itself! It was in vain that I endeavoured to excuse my own conduct by that of the object; in vain that self-love suggested that the latter had in a manner invited me : Conscience, or rather Reason, whispered that had I succeeded the misery would have been just the same.-He who pushes his fellow from the verge of a precipice, and he who drags his struggling victim through a length of distance to a similar fate, are guilty of one crime: though if we ask, Which is the greater villain? the answer is, undoubtedly, not the man who yields to the temptation of a moment, but he who is determined to leap over every obstacle to gain his end. Just so with seduction:-The libertine who uses flattering lies, and deceitful promises, and all the other lures for woman's weakness, is a baser wretch than he that obeys the wink of an occasion, which—alas!

* Vicar of Wakefield.

so few are able to resist. And yet is the latter not guiltless. Beware then how you judge of others, till the lashes of your own conscience tell you how easy it is for the most honourable to slide!

It is a pity that youth has so bad a memory! Two minutes after I had made the above reflections-I forgot them all. My thoughts then took another turn, and I be. came doubtful whether my legs should follow them-videlicet, round the corner of a road which made an acute angle, most invitingly, with that wherein I was trudging. The truth is, that for the first time, since I had resumed my coat in the garret, it occurred to me that I knew not whither I was going. Here then was a point to be settled. So I sat down upon the bank of the road, and began to cogitate. The result was-that, inasmuch as I had an uncle in London, old, rich, and childless, and the very man to whom I owed my pretty name, it was my bounden duty to pay my respects to him. I sprang from the bank-But I had no money! I stopped, put the forefinger of my right hand to my lip, held it there one instant, and drew it back. I was young, active, and in good spirits,-and what is difficult to youth?-I resolved to work my way to London, (provided, of course, I could not get there in a manner more to my satisfaction).

"Now, shall I turn this corner-or not?"—said I to myself. I mused a second: the road looked tempting; a bright thought struck me :-I thrust my hand into my breeches' pocket, and drew forth one of the half-pence, which the reader may remember was all I had before I stole-hum!" Now," said I, (still to myself,) "head shall be for yes, and tail for no. "-I threw up the half. penny: "Head or tail?” cried 1 (aloud). Down came the half-penny-and his majesty's visage shone plainly through the dust. I took up the money, wiped it on the seat of my breeches, put it into my breeches' pocket, grasped my bundle, and—turned the corner.

I jogged on very contentedly till two o'clock in the afternoon

Pray, Jeremy !-one moment-How came you to know the hour so precisely? for, supposing that you ever had a watch, your light-fingered (though heavyfisted) friend would no doubt have made the time pass very quickly-between your pocket and his own.

Simply by means of my stomach. As thus:-Once upon a time I happened to overhear the following conversation between two ladies: "Dear me! I wonder what time it is!" exclaimed one of them...." Quarter past one, exactly," said her friend...." Are you sure?" rejoined the first...." Certainly !" answered the other"for I feel extravagantly hungry; and I always eat something at quarter past one, exactly."

I jogged on then, very contentedly, till two o'clock in the afternoon; when my stomach betraying strong symptoms of uneasiness, I began to lose my good humour. However, though my legs did not move so nimbly as heretofore, still they moved; and the consequence was, that just when about to drop from fatigue and hunger, I came to a little inn. Raising my eyes, mechanically, to the sign, which swung between two paintless posts directly in the middle of the road, I saw a sight that caused my mouth to water-viz, the picture of a goose lying in state upon a large dish, with a knife and fork conveniently stuck in her belly. Though the limner, with great dexterity, had painted the bird with all her feathers on-doubtless, that her character might not be mistakened the sight was too tempting for a hungry man, and I sighed aloud. A hearty laugh at my right hand made me turn angrily round to see who made so merry at my expense, and there in the inn door stood the dispenser of good things, the landlady herself.

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Well, my pretty lad-would you like a slice of that ere goose?"