-O
«Ni
m
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
f°
P. 56.
Discussing the event3 of the Holidays.
DASH WOOD PRIORY;
<>l:.
MORTIMER'S COLLEGE LIFE.
BY
E. J. MAY,
,i ill'.u OB "LOUIS'S SCHOOL !>A\-," KT<\
.1 p.rfo Coition, tllustratrtj bu 3olm iPilbnt.
LONDON :
UOUTLEDGE, WARNE, & ROUTLEDl
(ADWAY, LUDOAT] HIL1
■ \\ 1'OltK: L29, G RAND in I I
DASHWOOD PRIOllY.
CHAPTER I.
" Accept, 1 beseech Thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth,
O Lord, and teacli me." — Pa cxix. 108.
" And they entered into a covenant, to seek the Lord God of
their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul." —
2 Chron. xr. 12.
If my reader ever travelled in Norfolk, he may
perhaps remember, when about sixteen miles from
Norwich, passing through the pretty village of
Dashwood ; and should he have been detained in
front of the " Mortimer Arms" while the coach
conveying him changed horses, I shall be much
surprised if his spirit of observation did not lead
linn to notice the little old church on the opposite
side of the road, and the pretty peep of the Priory
grounds, which immediately adjoin the ehurch-
yard, and are supposed by some antiquarians to
have formed the garden of a monastery attached
to the church, as a small portion of the Priorj
still stands, of the Bame date and style of archi-
tecture with tltc church.
I, may n<>t be a matter of fad to even reader
of this book, that the Mortimers, whose effigies
nearly fill Dashwood church, have from time
7*5:
2 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
immemorial been born and buried in Dashwood,
and generally lived a respectable part of their
lives in the Priory.
About twenty years ago the family mansion
was tenanted by the Rev. Louis Mortimer and his
family, and we think we may very safely assert,
that of all the abbots, warriors, country squires,
and M.P.'s, that have from time to time been
possessors of Dashwood and the adjacent village,
none has been more beloved, and deservedly so,
than this gentleman, who, to the position of owner
and landlord, added the office, in his own person,
of rector of the parish of Dashwood.
The rain had fallen heavily one night in July,
but as the morning sun broke victoriously through
the clouds, and scattered his broken rays in
gorgeous and chastened hues on every rain-drop,
or danced in pale golden stars on each fresh
glittering flower and shrub, the spiritual eye
saw the type of a mourner comforted ere his
tears are dried; his sorrow, if it be of a godly
sort, only making hi.ni more lovely when the sun
of righteousness breaks through the cloud of
trouble to cheer his fainting soul.
The pious spirit of the young Christian had
drunk in the sacred lesson with the glorious
morning brightness, as, roused by the clash of the
church-bells from a light sleep, he stood at the
window of his bed-room on the morning of his
confirmation. He was not then to begin his
acquaintance with a heavenly Father; it was
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 6
■with him an open confession of the hope and
faith of some years of his boyhood. It was a
serious, but hardly an anxious, time with Louis
Mortimer, for he knew well what it was to believe
that a stronger arm than his own held him up,
and that it was pledged to hold him for ever.
He had long wished to be confirmed, and now
the joyful, solemn time was come, he hoped that
in this public and sincere voluntary acknowledg-
ment of his early dedication to the Almighty God,
new strength and new help might be given, to
run more patiently the race set before him.
Early as was the hour, the little village and its
environs appeared unusually lively that morning.
The bustle of the little householders all betokened
the advent of some important event. As the
morning wore on, carts and light chaises brought
into the village no small addition to the popula-
tion from the neighbouring villages. Between nine
and ten o'clock, several carriages of greater preten-
sions dashed up to the " Mortimer Arms ;" and
as time went on, quite a crowd was collected near
the park attached to the Priory, to catch sight of
the mitred coach as it swept through the lodge-
gates, and as they closed after the coach the m
of people moved on to the church-yard, to see tin-
procession enter the church.
A little after ten, a long troop of young people
panned in, and a minute or two after, .Mr. Mortimer
arrived with his eldest SOD Reginald, a youth of
seventeen, followed by Louis, and a young friend
B •!
4 DASHWOOD P1UOIIY.
and schoolfellow, who had been spending his
holidays at the Priory, .and had joined Louis and
his brother in their preparations for this rite ; this
virtual baptism of those who are sincere in their
solemn profession, and which, we may confidently
hope, has proved the time when many a dear child
of God has been brought into inward covenant
with Him, and been enabled by God's grace to
choose the Lord for his God, and the ways of the
Lord for his portion- While ascribing all con-
version to the free grace of God, it is not depend-
ing too much on ordinances to believe that He
who works by means, should bless this means to
the souls of many of those who are, as it were,
arrested then seriously by the question, " How
long halt ye between two opinions V " Choose
ye this day whom ye will serve. If the Lord be
God follow Him;" "They who seek God early
shall find Him ; " and ;i sincere and heartfelt
dedication to Him must bring down a blessing.
There was one among the three youths to whom
the truths of our holy religion had been presented
for the first time with a personal distinctness, and
this was the young friend of the Mortimers, .Mere-
dith. He had heard little of religion at home,
though intended for the ministry. And though
at school the doctrines of our faith had been care-
fully instilled by a pious master, he was there but
one among a number; here he had felt a closeness
that obliged him to look into himself, to inquire
whether Christ Jesus were in him, — to see whether
DASHWOOD PBIORY. ■>
he himself was blameless in never having appro-
priated to himself one warning, one promise, one
threat. Two thirds of the church were filled by
the candidates for confirmation, who were gathered
together as near the communion-table as possible,
to listen to the few words their dear pastor would
Bay to them before they took their places. The
little building had been verv tastefully decorated
O a* •
with flowers and evergreens. Mr. Mortimer ad-
vanced with his sons and Meredith to the tabic ;
and after mustering all present, and seeing that
all were provided with tickets, addressed them in
a few affectionate words, reminding them of the
great importance of the act they were now about
to perform, and of all they had been considering
during the late examination. He spoke of the
congregation which would there witness that day
their solemn declaration, and of the unseen cloud
of witnesses, urging on them the beginning of
that race which should be continued steadily to
the end, looking unto Jesus, the Author and
Finishes of our faith, without Whom it is impos-
sible to be consistently persevering. They then
sang together the follow ing hymn : —
" Power from on high, O Lord, impart ;
Power in Thy < roapel to believe ;
Powrr t<> surrender our whole lie-art ;
Power all Thy mercy to receive.
" Tin: Word to us in vain were given ;
We bear, we read, we learn in vain ;
I . i in 'I'll y Son came down from beavi □ ,
If Thou tbe spirit'- might re 'rain.
6 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Here be His sacred influence felt,
With searching, cleansing, quickening force ;
Till souls of millstone-hardness melt,
And flow like waters from their source.
" Convinced and humbled in the dust,
Beneath the burden of our guilt,
We own Thy law's dread sentence just,
But plead the blood for pardon spilt.
" Thy Spirit witness with that blood,
And Christ our Saviour glorify :
May we as children born of God,
With rapture, Abba, Father ! cry."
Mr. Mortimer led the two first verses himself,
but became so much affected that he was obliged
to sign to his curate to fjnish it, and stood looking
at his dear young people with a heart overflowing
with tender anxiety and affectionate interest.
The young people were all arranged in order in
the pews nearest the communion-table when the
spectators entered the church; and a short time
after, an increased murmur from the throng outside
told the arrival of the bishop. The clergymen went
out to receive his lordship, and marshalled him up
the centre aisle. As the procession moved on, the
organ sent forth a solemn, quiet strain of music ;
and when that ceased, one of the clergymen
present read the sweet service of our own dear
church. At length the bishop ascended the
pulpit; and after a short address, he asked that
solemn question which begins the Confirmation
Service, " Do ye here, in the presence of God, and
of this congregation, renew the solemn promise
and vow that was made in your name at your
DAS II WOOD PRIORY. 7
baptism, ratifying and confirming the same in
your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves
bound to believe and to do all those things which
your godfathers and godmothers then undertook
for you?"
There was a slight pause when his voice ceased,
and then arose an irregular sound of the answer,
" I do." A second time the question Avas put,
that they who had been too timid to raise their
voices the first time might have an opportunity
of doing so; and this time it seemed like one
voice ; and what did that one accord say ? " I do
renounce the devil and all his works; — I do re-
nounce the pomps and vanities of this world, and
all the sinful lusts of the flesh ; — / do steadfastlv
believe all the articles of the Christian faith; —
/ do intend, by God's gracious help, to keep his
liolv will and commandments, and to walk in the
same all the days of my life."
Then passed the whitc-robed girls and the long
line of boys ; and it was a lovely sight to watch
the simple ceremony in its important meaning,
and sad to see some careless faces, and to feci that
though the same prayers had been offered, and
the same exhortation been made in their hearing,
the same hands had been laid on their heads,
they had no part nor lot in the matter; for the
heart was not right in the sight of God.
To the Priory party il \.;:-, hnwrwr, DO light
time. When the bishop had pronounced the last
blessing, and their own short petitions had been
8 DASI1W00I) PltlOHY.
offered, they reverentially left the church, and
joined their friends at the park gate. You might
easily guess how each young person had been
impressed, by observing his or her demeanour on
leaving the house of God. Some almost rushed
out of the pews, ran to their friends, talking
before they were out of the church doors, and
then laughing and quizzing those ai-ound, as if
thev had come from a merry-making : others
rather less giddy stood still, more anxious to
watch the exit of the bishop than to think on
what had taken place ; and some there were who
quietly went home, and endeavoured to reap a
blessing from the consideration of the vows they
had just publicly taken on them.
The bishop was going to dine at the Priory,
and arrived a few minutes after the rest of the
party.
Meredith ran up to his room as he entered the
house, and Louis not caring to remain in the
drawing-room, where his father and mother were
entertaining the bishop, left the house and saun-
tered along the park until he reached a favourite
spot, which had been his musing place from earlv
childhood. A pretty garden chair had lately been
placed here, in lieu of the two stones he and Regi-
nald had formerly dragged under the weeping
willow; and so completely was this nook, which
went by the name of " Louis' Willow," associated
with him, that it was almost as sacred to his use
as his own four-walled room in-doors.
DASHW00D PEIORY. 'J
This place seemed the fittest he could choose
when he desired, as on this day, to look back on
his young life, and trace the way his God hud led
him ; all the goodness that had guided his totter-
ing steps in infancy, and made all things work
together for his good. lie remembered lying
here dreamily listening to the bells, and wonder-
ing in which part of him his soul was. How often
had he enticed his kind mother here to tell him a
storv or sin<r a hvmn ; and insensibly his mind
wandered on to the dismal time when he was left
alone with Mr. Phillips at the rectory, while his
father and mother were abroad, and Reginald at
school; how he had stolen away here to cry and
write Latin verses with sad pain and grief; still
further his thoughts ran on, to his desire of being
at school, and his hard school-boy trials, and he
would thank God, whose love had blessed all to
him ; had made his weak character strong to
glorify Him; and the very consequences of his
frequent failings the means of curing much of his
unmanly feebleness. Then came the immediate
remembrance of the vows professed that day ; and
he thought happily of the privilege; of being a
partaker of the Lord's Supper, and was beginning
to look again at some passages of a well-read letter
he drew our of his jacket-pocket, \\ hen Reginald's
hands were suddenly placed on his shoulders, and
he was abruptly asked to come and walk.
•• Arc you dreaming over Hamilton '.'" be added,
as lie picked Up the letter which Louis had let fall.
10 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" I was thinking of him, most certainly. I
have some reason to think of him. What a friend
he was to me ! How thankful I am he stayed so
long ! "
" Still, you did very well without him this last
year/' said Reginald.
"It was certainly time I should do without
him," replied Louis, thoughtfully. "Oh, Reginald !
how full my life is of mercies ! everywhere I look
I see them ; and I want to see them ; that I can
is one of them."
" It is," replied Reginald gravely, " only ex-
cuse me, Louis, lest I think you underrate your-
self in thinking other people such boons to
you."
" Never mind," said Louis smiling, " I know
what a poor weak fellow I am. You feel strong,
and so we differ. Hamilton taught me to despise
weakness in myself, and to stand alone, more than
any one, and he never laughed at religion ; there-
fore I will thank God for him."
"You certainly owed something to him when
you first came to school, — at least in some things,"
rejoined Reginald ; " but Hamilton himself would
not have borne three weeks' punishment for Fer-
rers, as vou did."
Louis coloured, and changed the subject by
putting his friend's letter into his brother's hand,
and begging him to read it.
It was a long one, and took Reginald some time
to read ; and, drawing his brother's arm in his
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 11
own, he perused it as they strolled through the
park.
" A very nice letter, Louis," he said, as he gave
it hack ; " very much to the point, as Hamilton's
letters always are ; and very anxious about your
confirmation, apparently. He is a good fellow.
I am glad the bishop is here, for Meredith. I
have been afraid he would be dull. I can't go
and talk nonsense with him to-dav : — not that he
always talks nonsense either ; but you know to-
day that I want to try to feel a little better, — or,
as lather would say, not wilfully hinder the good
that may come to me. Oh, Louis ! this does not
look much as if my father had been here."
The village seemed in a state of excitement, and
wore the appearance of a holiday, as many of the
inhabitants of the neighbouring villages had come
to the congregation, and remained to rest with
friends or acquaintances till it was time to return.
Several young persons in their Sunday dress, the
girls in their new confirmation caps, stood in the
cottage gardens, as the brothers passed, while
others they met in twos or threes walking up and
down the road. Louis hastily drew his brother
back into the park, that they might not seem to
countenance the giddy conduct of many before
them.
" ! think it will be better not to walk out of
the grounds, Reginald; it will perhaps give a
handle to those people to say thai we sel them a
bad example."
12 DASHWOOD PIUORY.
"But wc know that wc do not/' said Reginald,
scornfully, as a party, consisting of a boy and two
girls, came by, laughing and screaming in a very
unbecoming manner. " I am really astonished,
after all my father's efforts, Louis."
u Because you forget he is a man, Reginald ;
and, then, those persons are not Dashwood
people."
"But I want to know why we are to be con-
demned to keep within the park-railings, when
our consciences are clear of anything but the
intention of taking an innocent walk ? "
11 Are wc not commanded to avoid all appear-
ance of evil V said Louis. " Half the people that
meet us cannot draw any distinction between our
quiet walk and that of the two who have just
passed ; here our influence is worth something,
you know; and I need not tell you how our
example may strengthen papa's hands."
" You arc a veritable Solomon, Louis. I won-
der sometimes where you get your wisdom ; now
don't look grave. I did come to have a little
serious conversation. Somehow you arc really
the only person I can talk with. You will hardly
believe how my mind wanders. I can't keep it
steady even for a few minutes on what I ought,
and wish to be thinking of; everything else comes
in turn, and the worst is that I do not really feel
anxious about it."
" God Himself must teach us of Himself," said
DASHWOOD PBIORT. 13
Louis, seriously ; " aud then there is no trouble in
collecting our thoughts. "
"But, must I not try?"
"Yes; but above all, pray that God will draw
you, that you mav run after Him."
* * * *
" You cannot think how weakly I pray ; I can-
not think mv prayers of anv use when thev are
mixed up with such hosts of nonsense."
"Ay, but the incense of Christ's name makes
the simplest wish mighty," replied Louis. " A \ e
Want to look more out of ourselves. Out of self
into Christ. To take even our vain thoughts, and
use them as a plea for obtaining help. What can
we do to help ourselves? I often think of that
passage on which Krummacher speaks so beauti-
fully — our Saviour's question to the disciples on
their way to Emmaus, What thi/ic/s? Did He not
know what things? — better far than they them-
selves, and therefore He led them to unburden
their minds, though lie knew beforehand what
they needed, as it were, to encourage us to tell
all our wants to Jesus. The very telling is a
comfort, Reginald. Take with you words, they
inav he feeble, but if thev come from the heart,
in Christ's name, they will be acceptable. The Lord
says, / will be inquired of by this people Draw
nigh to dud, mul He will draw nigh to you"
"Oh Louis!" righed Reginald, " what a happy
at nre you are ! GrO On, BSJ BOmething to me."
Louis repeated Cowper's hymn, " What various
14 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
hindrances/' and then " Rock of ages/' and after-
wards the eighth of Romans; they then became
quite silent. It has often been remarked that
members of the same family feel great reserve in
speaking on religious subjects to one another, and
in a measure this was the case with the two
brothers, though more with Reginald than Louis,
and had they not been accustomed to constant
interchange of thought from their childhood, it
would have been greater. For half an hour they
walked along in silence, we will trust profitable
silence, till roused by the loud ringing of the
dressing bell, they separated to dress for dinner.
The bishop was an amiable, pious man, and
assisted by the chastened tone of his conversation
the impressions of the day. After dinner he left
the Priory, and the evening was spent in singing-
sacred music, till at an eai'lv hour the familv re-
tired to rest.
P'lSinvOOD PRIOUY. 15
CHAPTER II.
" Give glory to the Lord your God, before He cause darkness,
and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and
while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death,
and make it gross darkness. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the
wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory
in his might ; let not the rich man glory in hi3 riches : but let
him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth Me." — Jeremiah xiii. lo" ; i.x. 23, 24.
It was a summer evening, a bright, fair, peaceful
evening, just after the confirmation, when a soli-
tary horseman might have been seen some two or
three miles from Dashwood, on the Norwich road.
He was well mounted, and rode with that careless,
indifferent air of confidence, that displayed his
familiarity witli the exercise, — if exercise it could
be called, — that elicited so little exertion. The
reins were lying on the horse's neck, and the
•nimal moved lazily along apparently where it
listed, but, in reality, skilfully, though somewhat
mechanically, guided by the practised hand of his
master through the tortuous way that led to Hash-
wood. The rider was a young man of B Blight
but perfectly well-built and gentlemanly figure, of
the middle size. There was something undeniably
aristocratic in the Lofty carriage of bis head, and
his easy air of indifference, lie was not strictly
16 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
handsome ; and yet, when you caught a full glimpse
of his liquid grey eye, you thought him beautiful,
— whether fired with the enthusiasm of his own
thoughts, or gazing more frequently in thoughtful
vacancy into the distant space. His face was
rather sunk and thin about the cheek-bones ; but
its brilliant colour, and. the animation of its ex-
pression, contradicted the idea of ill-health, while,
as he now and then lifted his hat from his head,
as a relief from its Avarmth and weight, in his
expansive forehead, and the dark silky hair usually
attributed to a nervous temperament, the image
of a loftv intellect rose before vou.
So he rode on, seemingly indifferent to all
around him, yet alive to all, — apparently buried
in his own meditations, yet storing in his mind
future food for them, when, turning one of the
many windings of the long lane, he came suddenly
upon a party of cottagers, consisting of a young
woman, who was carrying a baby, and two older
children, — one a girl of about eight years old, and
the other a boy of about half that age. This last,
— a great sturdy fellow, — was sitting in the middle
of the road, crying passionately, so directly in the
rider's path, that he with difficulty checked the
horse in time to prevent it from walking over the
child.
" Hallo ! my good woman," he exclaimed, " you
should take better care of your offspring. What's
the matter with the youngster?"
The woman curtsied, apologized, thanked, and
,'■
*> D
i> «<
Qon Digb (
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 17
finally explained to him that the rebellious young
gentleman had been spending the day with her in
the next village, about three miles distant, and
now declared he was too tired to proceed.
• Arc not you a pretty young fellow?" ex-
claimed the gentleman. " (Jet up this instant,
and go on."
" I ti — ed ! " roared the child, without moving.
" You naughty child ! " exclaimed his mother,
taking his arm, and shaking him. " Get up ;
don't vou see vou'll be run over. Oh, sir, he's a
trying boy; and it's church night, too, sir," she
continued, in a despairing tone, " and I'll never
get there in time. Get up, David, or I'll tell your
father."
" Get up, sir, this instant ! " cried the stranger,
sternly. And the startled child rose, and, with
his finger in his mouth, moved a few steps, only
to renew his crv of, " I ti — ed ! "
" Can you help him here?" said the gentleman,
alter a moment's pause. " There — so; now, if
\ou crv, I'll throw vou over the hedge: do vou
hear that ?"
Half frightened^ and half pleased, the child Bat
passively before his new friend ; and, amid thanks
from the mother, they all proceeded down the
lane, — the horse first, and the relations of the
Crying child behind. As the lane widened, the
young mail slackened his pace, to accoininoda: e
his humble companions.
18 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Where am I to put this young man down ? '•
he asked.
" We are going to Daslrwood, sir. May be you
are not going on so far, sir ? "
" To precisely the same place, my good woman :
so we shall be compagnons tie voyage, I presume,
as far as the limits of your own."
The woman looked very closely at him as he
spoke, and, perfectly conscious of the scrutury he
underwent, a slight smile curled the corners of
his mouth.
" You said it was church night ? " he remarked.
" What may ' church night ' be ? "
" The night as we goes to church," replied the
little girl.
" And is that always Wednesday ? "
The mother answered in the affirmative.
" That's rather irregular, isn't it ? " said he ;
" most people go on Sundays."
" Ay, sure, sir," said the woman, quietly ;
" and most on 'em goes on Wednesdays too ;
only this here naughty boy has hindered me to-
night."
" Then you put Wednesday into the bargain ?
You are pious, good sort of people hereabouts,
I suppose ? "
" Bad's the best of us, sir," said the woman, in
rather a puzzled manner.
" Then, I am sure, the best must be my friend
David here," added the young man.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 19
" Oh, law, sir ! he's a naughty boy," said the
woman.
" Very ! Who preaches at the church ? "
" Mr. Mortimer to-night, sir. And I'm afraid
I'm late, sir."
" Well, that depends upon what you call late ;
and it is a matter on which I can hardly dccii! •.
It's now exactly one quarter of an hour to seven,
which, considering all things, I am disposed to
call rather good time."
" Quarter to seven ! " repeated the woman,
despondingly ; " It 's begun a epiarter of an
hour."
" Well, we are not very far from the church
now," said the gentleman. ft Is David to be taken
there ? "
" Oh no, sir, thank you, I must put him to
bed, and my girl will take care of the baby."
" I am afraid you stand a good chance of hear-
ing the fog end of the sermon," replied her com-
panion, as he drew in the reins of his steed, and
good-naturedly lifted the boy down to his sister,
who had run on before, and now stood at a cottage
to receive him. " Good-by, David; mind I hear
a better account of you when I come this way
again."
" And I'm sure I'm much obbged to you, sir,"
said the woman, with a profusion of cnrtflifit.
■■ \nd I'm sore you're very welcome," he
replied, raising his ha1 in acknowledgment of hei
deep reverence.
20 DASHWOOD PHIORY.
" Well, sure 1 " she said, as she stood watching
him canter down the road. " He's a real gentle-
man. I'd fancy I know'd his face. I wonder if
he be going to the Priory, Betsey ? "
As Betsey could not answer, the wondering
cottager turned into the house, and finding David
and the baby both more troublesome than she
anticipated, was obliged reluctantly to give up
her intention of going to church that night.
Meantime our hero, as if well acquainted with
the way, cantered along the shady road till lie
reached a lane that led to the church. One side
of this lane was bounded by a wooden paling,
which divided it from the park, and over this the
thorough-bred mare was easily persuaded by her
master to leap, and then carried him quietly
across the park to the house.
" I suppose every one is at church," said the
gentleman to himself. " But at least there will
be some one to take care of the premises, I pre-
sume, even in Utopia."
The noise of the horse's feet on the gravel path
in the front of the house soon brought an answer,
in the guise of a man-servant at the hall door.
" Are the family all at church ? "
"Yes, sir; they'll be home at eight. Will you
walk in, sir, and rest till church is out ? "
By this time the stranger had dismounted, and
stood looking at the white-haired domestic with a
laughing countenance. " So I am grown out of
all recollection, eh, Jones V*
DASHWOOD PRIORY. '- 1
• Indeed, sir, I do not recollect you," replied
the man respectfully.
" Well, I recollect 1/011, however, and many's the
time I have riven you some reason to remember
1 lie, year.- ago; years niter us young folks more
than you older ones. Mr. Reginald has not
returned to school ye1 '■"
•• Me does not go back, sir, I believe. Mr.
Reginald has left Dr. Wilkinson's, and Mr. Louis
is to go for another year, I hear say. They're all
at the church, sir ; and there's a young gentleman
staying on a visit, from Dr. Wilkinson's, sir, a nice,
free-spoken, merry young gentleman, rather fond
of mischief or so. Bui that's young blood; all
young folks ia alike, sir; Mr. Reginald's fond of
fun, sir; now Mr. Louis and Master Neville are
quite of another sort, and — "
"And are quite patterns of morality, and all
that sort of thing." interrupted the stranger;
"and, 1 -hi 1 ose, grown young giants in length ?"
■ Mr. Louis is very tall, sir, and so like master,
the very image of him, and likely to be just such
another."
•' WCII. will von sec that my horse is taken eare
of; my Luggage will he here by the coach, and I
will go to the church for the present."
"Might 1 make hold to ask your name, sir?' 1
"Vernon Digby," replied the young man,
turning mischievously oil' as he spoke, with a
speed that effectually stopped all demonstrations
of the astonishment and welcome visible on the
22 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
face of the old man, who, after advancing a few
steps from the door in pursuit of him, satisfied
himself with a long-drawn sigh, and a " Well, to
be sure \"
The hushed beauty of the home scenery around
was suited to the young man's feelings at this
time, just returned from the excitement and
activity of Cambridge, where his rising name, for
the last year or two, had been the envy and admi-
ration of every ambitious mind, and the pride of
his tutors and college. There was in him a rare
combination, the wise said, of genius and industry,
and the results in human eye would be splendid.
To what might they not look forward from such
an intellect ? There was nothing in which he did
not excel. What cost others such labour to
attain, a short period of industry for him, and it
seemed beneath his feet, and another hill pre-
sented itself, to be mounted as easily : yet though
his rising fame had spread so widely in Cambridge,
he was not quite what is understood by a "read-
ing man," nor had his success been acquired by
systematic cramming. No one more keenly
enjoyed the healthy recreations of the University,
though want of physical strength prevented his
attaining to much excellence in them, and a wine
or supper party was considered a double treat if
he formed one of the number. Yet he was proud
and ambitious, conscious of superiority though
disdaining all exhibition of it. " I do know more
than some," he once answered a friend ; " I know
DA.SnV.'OOD PRIOKY. 23
that I know nothing. How raucli more there is
to learn. "What folly to speak of learned men !
we're all in our cradles vet, man."
13ut the hurry and bustle of Cambridge was
OYer for the present, and the undergraduate drew
a long breath after a rapid retrospect of the last
few months, and stood still to drink in the utter
tranquillity. His being seemed to bathe itself in
the long golden streams of light on the turf,
and the hush almost gave him a sense of giddi-
ness. For some moments not a sound of am' kind
w
reached his ears, and when at length it came it
was but the low of a cow and the slight rustle
of the leaves above him, increasing to a rushing
sound as they bent to the passing breeze.
"And, after all, what is it worth?" he ex-
claimed, with a long-drawn sigh. "1 am not
satisfied, I want more: a human being never can
be satisfied in this existence/' he thought; "he is
meant to progress. I feci my existence is to
mount; a world lies before you, Vernon, up!"
and then a quiet smile and the old thoughtful
vacancy stole over his features, and he strolled on,
almost unconscious! v, till he reached the little
gate which opened into the churchyard.
As he laid his hand on the latch a burst of
choral melody came from the open doors and
windows of the church, accompanied by the
illing sound of a small organ. Vernon was
not unmoved; the sound was in unison with the
calm beauty without. He I n al to
24 DASHWOOD PRIOBY.
listen, and when the first verse was concluded, he
traversed the intervening space and entered the
little building.
Ordinarily, when Vernon Digby entered a
church his first care was to satisfy himself as to
its architectural properties, but a different feeling
somehow stole over him as he stepped into this
well-filled place of worship — a feeling of rever-
ence and solemnity. Uncovering his head, he
stood a minute or two near the door, till the pew-
opener beckoned him to the door of a pew near.
Vernon declined the proffered attention with an
inclination of the head, and seated himself on a
stone bench, from whence he could see both the
pulpit and organ-loft. In the latter he had dis-
covered two of his cousins, Neville and his great
friend and onlv sister Mary, and into the former
Mr. Mortimer just entered.
At first, in spite of the earnest prayer with
which Mr. Mortimer prefaced his discourse, Ver-
non was much more intent upon watching the
movements of the white frock above him than on
the sermon ; but by degrees the tone of his uncleV
voice attracted him, and before long his attention
was completely absorbed by the full free Gospel
declared. It was addressed to the newly con-
firmed, on the text, " My son, give me thine
heart." And though Vernon considered his uncle
rather extravagant in his notions, there was some-
thing so real, so joyous, so elevating, that he felt
almost persuaded to be a Christian ! Oh ! how
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 25
vainly does man try to find a substitute for this
happiness. What a shadow is all else ! And
Vernon felt it in liis heart ; and vet he forced
down all his convictions for the sake of the vain
shadows at which ho grasped. The sounds of the
preacher's voice had died away; the little organisl
led the choir in their parting liynm ; but \ criion
sat still, — his arms folded, and his eyes fixed
vacantly on an old tomb before him, till the
proffer of a hymn-book from a neighbour roused
him ; and, shaking off his absorbtion with a sup-
pressed sigh; lie stood up, and gazed round the
church till the Psalm was finished. In a few
minutes the congregation had left the church,
and shortly after came the Priory party. -Mr.
Mortimer was first with .Mary and Neville; the
governess with Freddy, the youngest boy, fol-
lowed; then came .Mrs. Mortimer, leaning on the
arm of a sweet-looking delicate youth, in whom
\ ernon easily recognized his cousin Louis, though
two years had raised him to a height that almost
equalled hi- brother's magnificent proportions; at
the same time he was so thin, that his clothes
hung on him as if they did not belong to him.
None of the party noticed Vernon, who remained
stationary till the lasl couple, consisting of his
cousin Reginald and .Meredith, were pa>siir_; bin:,
when In 1 started up. Reginald moved back :■. step.
" How, Vernon \"
" How, Reginald I So you intended to cul me.
too.''
2G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" How did you come here?"
" What an affectionate welcome ! " said Vernon.
" But, really, you know we never expected to
see you here just yet," replied Reginald, shaking
his hand vehemently.
" Better and better," ejaculated Vernon.
" But how came you at church ? Have you
been to the house?"
" To be sure ; and quite frightened poor Jones,
with my intimate recollections of him. The rea-
son why I came here is because you were here.
Why, what a stalwart fellow you are grown : you
throw poor little me quite into the shade."
" Poor little you, indeed ! " exclaimed Reginald,
as he stooped to latch the gate through which they
had passed ; " Mens magna in corpore parvo, a
multum in parvo, Vernon. If ever I feel myself
great, it will be when walking by the side of
my great cousin."
" Great fudge ! " replied Vernon. " How d'ye
do, Meredith ? I beg pardon ; but you are grown
enough to excuse a little remissness on my part
in remembering an old school-fellow."
" We are all growing old," said Meredith ; " but
if we make as good a use of our years as I hear
you do of yours, we shall have no reason to regret
them."
" You will have to tell me all about everything,"
said Reginald ; " because I am coming to Cam-
bridge next October, having paid my adieu to
our beautiful school, I am happy to say."
DASH WOOD PRIOR Y. 27
" Frank leaves the doctor's, and comes up, also,
to his great joy; but I think you may both wish
to be at school again, some day," said Vernon.
" That's what all the wise folks say," said
Meredith. " But did you ever experience it,
Digby?"
u Well, I don't know that I ever did. Some-
times I think of the old times, and like their
memory much. Depend upon it, we arc all hap-
pier at school than we are aware of."
" Hear, hear ! " cried Reginald. " It is an
established axiom, that we never know the value
of our blessings till we lose them ; but I must
own, the value of school life ought to be doubly
appreciated, when an embryo wrangler conde-
scends to regret it. But there is mamma won-
dering who we have got. Hurry, hurry, hurry,
hurry on ! "
The van of the party were waiting at the hall-
door, having been already informed by the butler
of Vernon's arrival. As he ncared the threshold,
both uncle and aunt advanced to meet him, Mary
and Neville having arrested him a few seconds
before with hearty welcomes. And now he
led into the drawing-room, and installed on a
sofa between his aunt and Reginald, t<> hear Qi
ami to answer innumerable questions, while Mary
and her favourite brother made and handed round
the tea. Then followed that pit asant time between
light and dark; and long the happy party sat.
never tired of hearing scraps of college stoi
28 DASHWO0D PRIORY.
till Vernon challenged his eldest cousin to a race;
and leaping out of the window at the moment,
both were soon out of sight among the dark trees.
In another ten minutes thev returned, — Reginald
first, and Vernon more slowly after him, pleading
his journey in excuse for his want of strength.
The candles were just brought in as they entered,
and presently the servants were summoned for
prayers. How peaceful and hallowed that little
service seemed. Vernon did not ioin in the hvmn
which all sang; but perhaps his heart was too
full. The lesson was the ninth of Jeremiah, and
the prayer asked for the unfading treasures of the
world to come, that all talent given might be
used to the glory of the Great Giver.
They separated for the night, and Vernon was
shown by his cousin to his room, with a kind hope
that he would sleep well, and soon recover from
his fatigues. But it was long before he lav down
that night. He sat without a candle, looking on
the dark star-spangled sky, or the indefinite maze
of dark trees and shrubs, till a grey tint in the
east warned him of approaching day, when he
sought his bed, and slept soundly till long past
the breakfast hour.
The few days following Vernon's arrival were
spent in rambles around Dashwood, and visits to
old haunts, and little family pic-nics, in all of
which Vernon joined with a zest that would have
astonished some of his college friends, who per-
haps might hardly understand the simplicity and
DASHWOOD 1'KIOKY. '2D
freshness of feeling almost inseparable from true
greatness of mind. Louis was soon to return to
school alone ; and the day before he went they
had planned a ramble to a beautiful wood about
five iiulcs distant ; and Vernon hearing that some
irood fishing was to be had about a mile further,
proposed they should take their lunch and fish-
ing-tackle, and make a morning of it. Louis was
at first rather averse to -pending so large a por-
tion of his last day from home ; but his objections
being overruled, the rods, bait, and sandwiches
were packed up, and directly after breakfast the
five young gentlemen sallied forth. They had a
merry walk to the wood, and, after a proper
survey ofits beauties, rested a little in the shade
and then proceeded to the mill-stream, which pro-
fessed to supply such good fish.
Louis never had been able to overcome his sen-
sibility on the subject of baiting the hook, his love
for the worm going beyond that of the old angler;
and Neville was content to look on and count the
successful captures of the three anglers. Vernon
-»as by far the mosl expert, though he seemed so
careless, and often laughed so merrily, thai Regi-
nald scolded him for disturbing their sports.
" Well, then, I'll leave vim to solitude, and go
0V1 r yonder."
•Whither'.'" asked Meredith. "There's no-
thing there but a wall and Water. '
•■ Nothing ': '" Baid Vernon. " Do you sec no-
thing?"
30 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
"Nothing, certainly/' said Louis, "that you
can stand on."
" But I see something very substantial in the
sitting way, and a capital pool, with lots of fish."
" Why, you don't mean to try to sit upon that
spout?" said Reginald, laughing.
" Just the very thing," replied Vernon.
" Do you want a cold bath?" said Neville.
"Well, I've no objection. 'I'm agribble to
anything,' as the man said; I am rather warm."
" But how are you to get there ?" asked Louis.
" Where there's a will, there's a way," replied
Vernon, rather doubtfully. " Eureka ! Eureka !
Eureka ! " he exclaimed, after a few moment's
cogitation.
As he spoke, he caught hold of the bough of an
ash that extended over the stream, and having
previously fastened his fishing tackle about him,
seized his rod and threw himself on the bough,
swinging it up and down ; till taking the spring at
the right moment, he leaped over the stream, and
alighted on a narrow ledge of brickwork on the
other side. The mill wall ran close up to a con-
siderable height, and there was no other resting-
place for some yards further. It was Avith breath-
less interest, and not eutirely without apprehen-
sion, that Reginald watched his cousin's descent
on the very slight stepping stone. He laid his
hand on the bar of a grated window near, and
then feeling safe, with a little exulting laugh raised
himself carefully to the spout, which had excited
dashwood r-iuouv. 31
so much longing, and balancing himself com-
fortably astride on it, sat perched over the stream,
at a height of some ten feet, in all the glory of a
deep pool below.
" Now, how do you mean to get back ?" shouted
Reginald. " You are very clever to get there."
"I shan't trouble myself to come back till I
am tired," said Vernon, coolly baiting his hook.
" I shall have such sport ; and now I won't talk."
Vernon felt there was some reason not to talk,
for the truth was his prized seat was betraying
him, being half covered with moss and very
slippery. It had been all very well as long as he
sat epiite still on the small horizontal portion,
which jutted from the interior of the mill, but a
little motion in throwing his line had displaced
him, and in vain he put his hand behind him,
and tried not to look foolish, or to acknowledge
his precarious situation. Reginald was hooking
a fine roach, when a laugh and loud halloo drew
his attention; "Here goes a large bait! The
iish'll get me! Ahoy there, Reginald!" and he
looked up in time to see his cousin's rod first fall,
and then the owner slip swiftly oil' the treacherous
spout alter it, with both hands behind him, in a
vain attempt to stay liis descent. Flump ! splash !
It was almost too deep for a laugh, but the mill
was not working, Reginald shouted for help,
and was throwing <>tl' his coat to plunge in to
Vernon's assistance, when the missing one who
had disappeared from the height of the foil, now
32 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
rose above the water, and striking out, reached the
land near his companions, and climbed up the
bank before they had well understood the matter.
"When he was safely landed, he first shook himself
after the fashion of a Newfoundland dog, and then
indulged in a hearty fit of laughter, in which his
friends now joined.
" You see vou need not have troubled yourself
about my return, I am back again as quick as
thought."
"And now," exclaimed Reginald, "you spoil-
sport, you thorough-bred, noisy, unsportmanlike
bather. I suppose we must pack up and return
home for your benefit."
m
" Sit down and go on fishing," replied Vernon.
" I'll walk about in the sun, and then I shall be
as dry as a bone."
" I dare say," said Meredith. " But we are
not so wrapped up in our sport as to kill you for
love of it."
" I am not so easily killed," answered Vernon.
" I won't go home."
"Indeed you shall," exclaimed Reginald.
" Now, you know I may be led, Mr. Reginald,
but never driven," said Vernon. " If you behave
like good men, and pursue your sport with due
decorum, I'll walk to the mill and get dry. They
will lend me a fustian suit ' for a consideration,'
and then I will come to vou."
" Well, if you will promise that — "
" I'll go with you, Vernon," .said Neville.
dasiiwood piuory. 33
" How are you to get across?-" asked Vernon.
" Oil ! there's a bridge round that corner/' re-
plied Neville; " I will show it to you."
" I am not fond of long ways," said Vernon,
f* and as I am wet, I don't mind braving the wave
once more, especially as my hat is swimming so
conveniently for catching, on the water opposite."
He threw off his coat as he spoke, and begging
Neville to drag it round for him, leaped as far as
he could into the stream, and directed his course
primarily to his hat, and finally to the landing-
place, which was a few yards distant from his old
station.
" How active he is," remarked Meredith, ad-
miringly, as he watched him climb the bank. He
gave them a farewell " Hurrah," and walked
rapidly away.
"He's a giddy fellow," said Reginald: "I
never knew any one laugh as much as he does
when he gets in these humours; no one would
fancy lie could be grave. Frank docs not laugh
so much as Vernon, though he makes others laugh
more."
"It is a good thing for his brain that he can
relax so much," said .Meredith. "But linsh !
here's a line fellow." The two friends sat silently
pursuing their sport, while Louis mused or read
under a shady beech, whither he had imported a
low camp-stool. Half an hour elapsed, when
Neville came running up breathless and furiously
heated.
D
34 DASHW00D PRIORY.
"I can't make out where Vernon is. Which
way did he turn ? I have been to the house and
inquired for him ; his coat is dry now, but no one
knows anything of him. I have been running
and calling in every direction nearly all this time.
What can have become of him ?"
"It's queer/' said Meredith, looking at Reginald.
" He's big enough to take care of himself/' said
Reginald.
" What's the matter?" asked Louis. " Vernon
lost ?"
Neville repeated his story, and exhibited the
dry coat.
" But perhaps he got there after you left the
house ? "
" I have just come from it/' replied Neville.
" I thought he might be there, and ran back to
see, just before I came here;"
"There he is!" exclaimed Meredith, pointing
across the water. And sure enough there he was,
without his coat, running to the water's edge.
" Reginald ! Meredith ! Louis ! " he shouted,
"come and look at this machinery. Here's a
most interesting saw-mill. It is worth looking
at ; come round. Oh, Neville ! bring my coat,
that's a good fellow."
The youths set off running, and were met at
the bridge by Vernon, who laughed at Neville's
fruitless search, and led the way down a little
hollow to a kind of workshop, where under a roof
revolved the circular mill which had charmed
DAsIIWooi) PHIORY. 35
liim so much. Ouce again here, and there seemed
to be no getting him away. He exhibited all its
points to his friends, and suggested certain im-
provements to the men; then he -wanted to go
over the Hour-mill adjoining, when Neville acci-
dentally touched him.
"Oh, Vernon, you arc quite wet! You have
never been to the house."
" No ; I have been better employed/' replied lie.
" You are very wrong," exclaimed Neville :
" you will get a terrible cold."
" Pshaw ! a wetting hurts no one as long as he
keeps in motion. Look here, Reginald, I want to
show you this eccentric. It draws the log gra-
dually along across the saw, without the least
trouble to the men. You did not expect to find
such an invention here. The artist is only a com-
mon workman. We must look over the mill; see,
Reginald, this gear is attached to the flour-mill:
I want to look over that with you."
"You must not, Vernon!" exclaimed Neville,
energetically. " Reginald, do not let him; mak
him come home."
"lam almost dry now," said Vernon, care-
lessly. " Reginald, 1 want them to have an
hydraulic engine."
" I won't hear any more of hydraulics or hy-
drostatics, OX any Other IC* now," said Reginald.
" You must be pleased to conic home."
"Immediately. lint just set "
" Vernon, you are very wrong," < cclaimeo
i) 2
36 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Neville. " It is quite sinful to trifle with your
health. You know as well as any one what the
consequences of such a wetting may be, though
you treat it so lightly. Vernon, do be persuaded
to come home, or, at least, to go into the mill-
house ; but a brisk walk will be the best for you
now. It is really too serious : you are trifling
with danger, Vernon."
" 'Oh, dear discretion ! how his words are suited," "
exclaimed Vernon, laughing.
" ' The hoy hath planted in his memory
An army of good words.'
I cannot withstand such a torrent of eloquence.
Come, Reginald, let's go. I shall be dry before
we reach home ; so much the better ; it will
save trouble. Come, let us see who will get
to the Priory first. We will come and make
a survey to-morrow, Reginald. Ah, Reginald !
Oh, Neville ! You have made me despise my own
rule, — ' Not to leave till to-morrow what mav be
done to-day.' Fools look after to-morrow ; wise
men take care of to-day."
He put on his coat, and, challenging them to
a race, they all set off full speed; and running
much, and walking a little, they reached home
in an hour. Vernon's persuasiveness, at least,
was perhaps owing more to a sense of shivering
than to Neville's powers of rhetoric ; but he was
tolerably warm when they reached the Priory,
and all bad effects might have been averted, had
he taken care then. He retired to his own room
DASIIWOOD PIUOHY. 37
directly, with urgent requests from all that he
would immediately change his things, and take
care of himself. Mrs. Mortimer, who in vain
urged his going at once to bed, went upstairs
herself with him, to see that the window Mas
shut, and, in spite of his laughing remonstrance
that he was so hot he could hardly breathe, he
promised to keep it shut. He did not descend
for more than an hour afterwards ; but Mrs.
Mortimer anxiously noticed his pallid face to
him in the course of the evening. She might
have noticed more, had she not been much taken
up with some little preparations for Louis, who
Mas to set off for Bristol the next morning at
half-past four.
38 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER III.
i
" What evil eye can entrance win,
Where guards like these abound ?
If chance some heedless heart should roam,
Sure thought of these will lure it home,
Ere lost in Folly's round."
Christian Year.
Meredith was so verv averse to leaving the cave
of Mr. Mortimer, that he persuaded his father to
make arrangements for him to read for the next
six months with Mr. Phillips, preparatory to his
matriculating at Cambridge. This arrangement
was particularly delightful to him, as Mr. and
Mrs. Mortimer were verv glad that he should
spend all his spare time at the Priory, his affec-
tionate attention to them having won their love,
and made them verv desirous to strengthen in
him every good impression he appeared to have
received while with them. It must he confessed
that, though Louis had arrived at the mature age
of sixteen, he felt more than usuallv lonelv at
leaving home this time. Many of his old friends
had left school, and among them his dearest
Reginald ; and the night travelling did not tend
to dissipate the gloom of his spirits as he drew
near his journey's end. The coach drew up at
the door of a large house by the roadside, a few
DASHWOOS PIUOHY. ','.»
miles from Bristol, where he was invited to spend
the night, in order to accompany one of his
schoolfellows back to Dr. Wilkinson's. The
coachman had put down his luggage and driven
off, and the gate-hell had been rung two or three
times, when a servant appeared in great haste,
and, with many apologies for keeping him wait-
ing, ushered him to the house, and throwing
open the door of a room on one side of the hall,
begged him to walk in, while she went to call
another servant to fetch his trunk.
" They hardly seem to expect me," thought
Louis, us he scrutinized the room to see what sort
of people Salisbury's relations were.
It Avas not certainly so elegant as Dashwood,
being nothing more or less than a lofty square
room, of very modern description, with three large
sash windows at one side, nearly covered by large
muslin curtains. In one, where the drapery had
been carelessly pushed aside, stood a small table
covered with ladies' work, and surrounded with
chairs and stools. On one ottoman lay a cotiple
of dilapidated dolls, and on, a large table mar
Louis a sextant, case of mathematical instruments,
and an open work on navigation. The piano Was
open, and Uttered with music. Near it, on a low
chair, lay a guitar, the long ribbon of which w;is
affording much amusement to a young kitten.
Louis w;in Left alone sonic minute-, and had fully
time to discover, from names inscribed on books,
and work, and toys, thai Frederick Salisbury, bis
40 DASHAVOOD PRIORY.
old schoolfellow, owned "Norie's Navigation/'
and his sisters, Edith, Caroline, and Fanny, the
emptied portfolios of music, before his medi-
tations were disturbed by the entrance of the
brother, who was to be under his escort the next
day. He stood still at the door, looked surprised
and shy, and finally began in a low tone, " Oh,
'tisn't Burton: — what an awful mistake Jane
made !"
" My name is Mortimer," said Louis advancing.
"Oh, you're Louis Mortimer!" replied the
young gentleman, coming up and holding out his
hand. "I thought you were coming at eight.
You've been kept an awful time by yourself; we're
so awfully busy to-day, what with the packing up
and all."
"Where arc your brothers?" asked Louis
quietly. " They are not packing up, I suppose ?"
"Come along, will you, and see. The girls
won't let Fred come down, so I've come down to
bring you up. They thought it was another
fellow ; but it's all the same. I dare say they'll
say I'm awfully rude, but they'll make it all
straight."
Louis was not much impressed by this specimen
of his future protege; he followed him quietly
upstairs, and on the way made some inquiries
■especting one of his brothers, who was now a
cadet in India.
Ethelred informed him that John was very
jolly, and all that," " longing for a fight ;" and
DAsuwoon PRIORY. II
that " mamma was as frightened as anything."
At this juncture they arrived at their jour-
ney's end, and opening a bedroom door, the
young gentleman shouted out, " Enter Louis
.Mortimer, Esq."
The bedroom into which Louis entered was
littered from one end to the other with trunks,
clothes, books, and other et ceteras, and on the
foot of a bed sat Salisbury, without his coat,
playing " The girl I left behind me." very
miserably, on a piccolo. A pretty laughing girl
of thirteen or fourteen sat beside him, stitching
away at something, and two others, whose long
curls hid their faces, were kneeling at a trunk in
front packing very diligently, while at the further
end of the room Charles was calling the names of
the articles from a long inventory. Two little
giils of about six and seven years old, who were
standing at Fred's knee listening with great
admiration to his playing, completed the tableau.
On Louis' entrance Salisbury jumped up and over
the trunk in front of him, and welcomed him very
heartily.
" Why, it's Louis himself! A great shame to
send for you to come to such a place, Louis ; but
the laet is, the servant announced another friend.
A summons came for me yesterday to join my
ship to-morrow at Plymouth, and as she's ordered
off to China, we've heaps to do. 1 know, old
fellow, you don't stand on trilles, and won't he
very angry at Ethelred's rudeness on such au
42 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
occasion. Look here, these beauties are all
frantic if I leave the room for a minute ; and so
Ethelred was desired to ask Burton, not you, to
our ' chaos worse confounded ' than usual."
" Don't apologize," said Louis. u And are you
really going for so long a time ? I do not wonder
your sisters can hardly spare you."
" And now I must introduce you : there are
such lots of them, I shall be lucky if I remember
their names right. My friend and schoolfellow
Mr. Louis Mortimer, ladies;" and Salisbury,
turned to his laughing, blushing sisters, who had
risen on Louis' entrance, te Misses Caroline and
Elizabeth Salisbury, the best packers in Christen-
dom : Miss Fanny, the girl what doesn't mind a
brotherly thump sometimes, when her old Fred's
afflicted with an accumulation of sensorial power,
as the books say ; and here," he continued, lifting
one of the little ones, " are Kate and Marianne ;
I don't know of what use they are, except to leave
their toys about, and get the brothers the credit
of breaking them. Thev know we don't care
about them a bit."
"But you do, though," said the little one,
squeezing his face between her hands.
" Do, though, indeed ! But, my dear fellow, you
are hungry, or tired, or something."
" Rather tired, but not hungry," replied Louis ;
" and not too tired to enjoy seeing you among
your kind sisters, whom I hope I shall know
better soon. I have only one, you know ; but I
I)\-M\VOOD PIUOKV. 43
love her well enough to understand how rich you
are in five times the number."
" Five ! — you haven't seen half of them yet."
" Oh, Fred ! " exclaimed Fanny, laughing.
"Half! — no, he hasn't. Do you suppose, little
ladies, that all of you together are equal to the
'Swan's Neck? 1 Here she comes! — my eldest
sister Edith, called Swan's Neck for her beauty."
" Really, Fred, you arc taking advantage of
your license to-day, I think," said the last-
mentioned young lady, who entered with her
mother at the moment.
" My mother, Mortimer. There isn't a mother
of them all can come up to mine ; not even yours,
Mortimer."
"At any rate," replied Mrs. Salisbury, "Mrs.
Mortimer would, I am sure, wish you to think
so; but we will excuse her son from being
obliged to hold the same opinion. My dear Mr.
Alortimcr, I am quite ashamed of the welcome
you have received, in return for your kindness in
coming to take charge of my boy. I have only
just heard that you were here, and should not
have imagined my young people would have
brought you op tired to this uncomfortable
room."
"I was just asking him if he was tired,
mamma," said her eldest son.
"We need ask no questions, 1 think," replied
his mother, sinking Iier head, and, lending Loui
out of the room, she Bhowed him into another
44 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
neatly arranged for his use; and after assuring
herself that his luggage was up, left him to make
his preparations for tea.
Our friend Louis, as we know of old, not being
of a very boisterous turn, was not sorry to rest
a few minutes in peaee after his long journey,
though he had been both amused and interested
by his introduction to his friend's family, which
Reginald had always lauded as the most pleasant
possible for holiday time. Before very long, a
gentle tap at the door preluded the announce-
ment that tea was quite ready ; and, on opening
the door, Louis found Fanny and a little brother
waiting to show him the way down.
Fannv led the way rather shylv, and iust as
they reached the hall, said, " I am afraid you
will think us all very rude ; but we did not expect
you quite so soon. You did not come by the
London coach, I think ? "
" No, I did not," replied Louis ; " I came from
Gloucester."
" The London coach does not come in till
eight ; and we thought all our packing would be
done -by that time. Jane announced an intimate
friend of the boys, who lives quite close, and
comes in very often. If we had known who it
was, we should not have asked you to come up,
at least not till vou were rested."
Her little merry face looked so apologetic, that
Louis felt quite sorry for her.
" You must not think any more of it," said he,
DASIIWOOD PltlOHY. 45
as he made way for her to enter tlie dining-room :
" your brothers are old friends of mine, and we
should never stand on ceremony with each other.
I never like being treated as a stranger, Miss
Fanny/'
When Louis arrived in the dining-room, he
found the table covered with a white cloth, and
laid out most hospitably with tea, fruit, eggs, and
cold meat. The large bow window was wide open,
and the two little girls were seated there at a
little table, a place being reserved there for
Fanny's companion. Fred's lather, a fine portly-
looking gentleman, as benevolent and prepossess-
ing in appearance as his mother, came forward,
and shaking Louis by both hands, welcomed him
to his house.
" I am afraid you must want dinner, Mr. Mor-
timer," said Mrs. Salisbury. " We were so con-
fidently assured by our hoys that you would come
by the London coach, or we would have suited
our dinner hour to you."
Louis assured her again and again that ample
dinner was provided for his wants, and presently
did justice to the cheer before him. His gentle-
ness and sweetness of manner prepossessed all the
party immediately in his favour, and nothing
could exceed the attention paid to his wants by
the greater part of the family, though it was rery
evident that there was one overpowering con-
sideration present with them all, that now and
theD cheeked the determination to be niern .
46 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
i(
We feel it exceedingly kind of you, Mr. Mor-
timer," said Mrs. Salisbury, "to promise to look
after our poor little boy. He lias been so delicate,
poor little fellow, that I am afraid he is now
hardly fit for school; but really, I suppose it is
time he went."
"High time," said the father. "The fact is,
Mr. Mortimer, he is a spoilt boy, and if Dr. Wil-
kinson can unspoil him, he will do a good deed.
That's the way we parents always do : we spoil
our children, and then leave the master to mend
them for us. Rather hard upon the masters, I
think."
" I think so too, when it is the case," said Louis,
smiling.
When tea was over, the elder ones withdrew to
the drawing-room to have some music, by Fred's
especial request. Mrs. Salisbury made a place
for Louis on the sofa, and her dear eldest boy
drew a low ottoman near her, and seating himself
thereon, leaned his head on her shoulder, and
called from time to time for his favourite ditties
and airs, varying his employment by kissing his
mother's hand, which he held in his. Little
Fanny, who seemed to be a very particular favourite
of his, sat near him hemming a handkerchief, and
was called on for one or two veiy simple songs,
without accompaniment.
" Doesn't she sing well, Mortimer? Hasn't
she 12 ot a nice little voice of her own?"
b
a
Very," replied Louis.
|i\-1I\VOOD PRIOHY. '-~
"You forget how well you always told us Mi
Mortimer sings, Fred/' said Fanny.
"No. By-the-bye, Mortimer, do sing some-
thin-."'
"Not to-night," replied Louis, smiling. "There
are some much sweeter songs to be beard by yon
to-night."
"Bv-the-bye," exclaimed Salisbury, "there's
' Norie/ and all those things not packed up, and
which of you beauties will sew me a button on
my glove?"
Fanny seized on the glove, and ran lightly away
with the things he mentioned, presently followed
by her eldest sister.
"She's such a little handy thing," said Salis-
bury; "I'll be bound she's got them all in be-
fore the Swan's Neck gets upstairs. Little Fan.
she lias always a smile and a needle and thread —
eh, mother?"
"We must not talk of her perfections," said his
mother, smiling.
Salisbury was at last constrained to attempt a
g himself, ami he got pretty well through B
rather roaring version of " Blow high, blow low."
till the middle of the second verse, when lie fairly
broke down, and hastily resumed his seat by his
mother.
■• How now, Fred?" said his father kindly.
"What's the row, Fred?" exclaimed Charlesj
•• you haven't finished it."
•• Sfou are good little creatures to sing so much
48 DASHW00D PRIORY.
for me/' said Fred, with an attempt to be gay.
" I know a fellow can't sing very well with a lump
in his throat. I'll just go and see what Fan's
about."
As the evening wore on, the spirits of the party
flagged, and Salisbury at length hardly spoke at
all. Louis retired to bed before prayers; and
believing him to be tired, no one pressed him to
stay longer : yet it was more than an hour before
the family separated ; for there were many things
to say that night of their first long separation,
that none but family ears should hear, and grief
that none but each other's hearts could share.
We will not lift the veil; there are some things
too sacred to be touched. That last night would
never be forgotten by the sailor boy ; nor will he
ever care to do that which should bring a pang
to the kind hearts of those dear ones who think
so fondly and proudly of him in his childhood's
home.
Fred left home with his father the next dav, bv
the coach that took Louis and Ethelred to Dr.
Wilkinson's, and the two latter were set down
safely at the White Lion early in the afternoon,
and not long after were on their way to Ashfield
House.
DASUWOOD PIUOIIY. 49
CHAPTER IV.
" My soul hangeth on Thee ; Thy right hand upholdeth me."
Ps. lxiii. 9 (Prayer Book version).
" He that feareth the Lord will do good." — Ecclesiasticus.
When Louis had got beyond Clifton lie dis-
mounted, with his young charge, both preferring
to walk the remainder of the distance, as Ethelred
was anxious to see as much as possible of the
neighbourhood of his school. It was a lovely,
warm day, and the beauty of the surrounding
scenery closed Louis's lips for a time, while his
heart was the more open to the bounteous Maker
of all. Thoughts of all past goodness, of the
care that hud been over him since he first learned
to love the Lord, and more especially since he
had been at school, rushed through his mind,
lie wondered why so much love was shown to
him. " Why me? why me? so weak, so faithless,
so doubting. I will extol Thee, my (iod, oh King,
and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever ; for
Thou hast magnified Thv word and Thv name
above all things. In the day when 1 cried Thou
answeredst me, and Btrengthenedsl me with
strength in my soul! And will lb' not still he
with me? I will trust, and not he afraid/' lie
remembered how fearful lie had been when
i:
50 DASHW00D PRIORY.
Hamilton had left hira, but still lie had been
upheld and enabled to walk holily before men ;
now he was still more alone. Reginald, who
always took his part, who was ridicule proof,
was no longer with him to fight his battles, and
to stand by him with his straightforward advice
and ready sympathy. Louis could hardly per-
suade himself that he was growing so old, and
was now one of the oldest in the school, and
should lead instead of being led.
" How gently have I been guided, oil my
Father!" he thought. "Hitherto hast Thou
helped me ; and how gradually am I taught to go,
taking me by my arms. Surely Thou hast led
me with cords of love. Hold me bv Thv riaht
hand ; never leave nor forsake me, but perfect
that which concerncth me, and enable me to walk
before Thee with a perfect heart." Then his
thoughts went back to his late confirmation, and
he was thinking how much more decidedly he
should stand forth as a soldier of Christ, now he
had make this public profession, when little
Ethelred said : —
" How silent you are, Mr. Mortimer ; are you
tired or sorry?"
" Neither ; only silent," replied Louis.
" Your eves seem to be full of tears," said
Ethelred ; n I thought you were thinking of
home."
" But not sorrowfullv," said Louis.
" Well, I don't know how you can think of it now
DAsawooo niioiiv. 51
and not be sorrowful ; I can scarcely keep from
crying, especially when I think of Fred going."
" Poor bov," said Louis kindly. " But vou
should try to think of home happily and thank-
fully, Ethelrcd."
" How ?" asked Ethelrcd. " I don't know how
a follow can. Were you not wishing to bo at
home just then?"
Louis smiled.
"There is no harm in a little of that," In-
replied; "though I was not exactly wishing to be
at home just then."
"But would vou not go home if vou might ?"
* Perhaps I do not know what is best for me,
Ethelrcd, and so it is a very happy thing I am
not left to choose. I think school has been, with
God's blessing, of a great deal of use to me, and
I hope it will be to you. You know avc hope to
be men some day, and must go out among men.
and we must learn, while boys, how men should
act; and so it is better to learn something of
that by degrees among those who will be men
with as. I am sure it is best, though I lou
home so dearly. I was thinking just now how
many things I had to thank God for, and how
glad 1 ought to be that lie is bo gracious as to
direct my way for mo, instead of leaving me
choose it for myself."
Bthelred looked up very gravely a: sis com-
panion; and then added : —
\re the boys at all like VOU, Mr. Mortin.
i 2
52 DASHW00D PRIORY.
" You will be able to judge for yourself soon/'
replied Louis. " But now I will tell you how I
want you to think happily and thankfully of
home. You must try to thank God that He has
given you so happy a home, and so many dear
brothers and sisters, and such kind parents, and
pray that you may never, never do anything at
school that may cause them a moment's pain.
The half-year will soon slip by, and how delightful
it will be to take home a good character, more
information, and perhaps a prize. Your papa and
mamma wish you to improve, and you will not
disappoint them, will you ?"
"No; I'll try," replied Ethelred, squeezing
Louis's hand very hard. " Will you help me,
Mr. Mortimer?"
" As much as I can. I want you to show the
others how you can serve God in diligence and
good behaviour."
" I am sure I shall be good, if all the boys are
like you," he replied.
" You must not expect them to care so much
for you as I do : each one has his own particular
friend."
"And may I be yours, Mr. Mortimer?"
" You may be one of mine," said Louis.
" I am sure you are very kind," said the
little boy. " How long it is before we get to Dr.
Wilkinson's; are we near?"
"There is the house," said Louis. "That large
grey building among the trees."
DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Ethelred looked at it with a kind of awe-struck
interest.
"It's a prettier house than I thought; and
where is the playground, and -which side is the
M'hool-room V
"The school-room is behind, and the play-
ground is behind, and before, and sideways, and
every way."
"What, that beautiful park, Mr. Mortimer?"
" Yes. It does not look a very dismal place,
does it?"
" Oh no, it's capital ! There's plenty of room
for play."
•And plenty of room for lessons too within,"
said Louis.
"Oh! I suppose we shall have an awful lot of
them ; I'm awfully afraid of that."
" There is nothing to excite so much awe,"
replied Louis. " I fancy your fear and the lessons
arc about equally matched, as you say."
'• What?" said Ethelred.
"There is nothing very awful in either. Pol
my part, I never met with anything awful in
lessons, nor do 1 think I ever felt awfully afraid ;
and I do not think you do either, if you consider
about it."
"Now, Mr. Mortimer, that's just what mamma
says."
"Then think of it the more."
"There's our fly going in at the gate. :j
"And we shall not be very long after it," said
54 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Louis, as he stooped to unfasten a little wicket at
the side of the park. " Oh, it's fastened ; but we
can climb over."
Accordingly he climbed over, assisted Ethelred,
and by a short cut across the ground reached the
hall-door at the same time with the fly, paid the
man, dismissed him, and then led his little charge
into the school-room. It was about three o'clock,
consequently all were in full work, yet many near
the door broke out of bounds to greet Louis
as he entered, and one grave-looking, well-grown
boy of twelve years old, bolder than the others,
fairly threw himself into his arms, " Oh Louis !
I was afraid you were not coming back."
" Sit down, Hamilton," cried the nearest usher.
" It's Louis Mortimer, sir," said Alfred, as he
obeyed the command.
Louis paid Ins respects to each master in suc-
cession ; and it was pleasant to watch the welcome
faces wherever he turned. One or two inqui-
ries were made about Ethelred, and the masters
generally said a kind word to him for his brother's
sake.
As Louis passed up the schoolroom, on his way
to the study, Avhere he found the doctor was, he
came to a familiar row of ink-stained desks, at
one end of which sat a boy of fourteen, with a
slate and book before him. Both his elbows were
on the desk, and his fingers were shoved among
the roots of his hair, while his abstracted, absorbed
study of the subject before him provoked a plea-
DASHWOOD PRIOKY- 55
sant-looking young man on the opposite side, who
ought to have been similarly occupied, into sketch-
ing the tempting attitude on his slate for the
benefit of his next neighbour, with whom he was
holding an under-current of conversation more
amusing than profitable. The head of hair and
the round shoulders would have identified Charles
Clifton anywhere ; and Louis roused him from his
studies by seizing both wrists, and pulling him
back with a gentle force. It was a minute before
diaries appeared to understand the meaning of
the interruption, and then he got up and shook
hands.
" I am very glad to see you."
" And how has the world wagged with vour
ladyship since we met last ? " said the artist, rising
and shaking hands across the desk. " I've taken
the rise out of you this half, however, Mr. Louis.
The bottom of the class to your ladyship. Is that
little Salisbury? How is it vou come so late,
sir? The doctor has been so angry that you
didn't come the first day."
" Frank, Frank ! " said Louis, laughing.
• Well, how are Vernon, Reginald, Salisbury,
and all the rest ? "
"I must tell you thai after school," replied
Louis, "for Mr. Danby looks as if 1 weir dis-
turbing decorum ; and, besides, I ought to ;_ r o
in to the doctor."
" Hear him ! " said Frank. " 1 <'
has forgotten your existence.' 1
56 DASHW00D PRIORY.
" I flatter myself he lias not."
" ( Lay not that flattering unction to your soul/'
Lady Louisa. Sit down ; I dare say he can wait
five minutes."
Louis only replied by a low bow, and a retreat
to the class-room.
I have so often elsewhere detailed interviews with
the respected head master of Ashfield House, that a
repetition may be tedious. It will answer our end
to say that Ethelred Salisbury was duly presented
to and examined bv Dr. Wilkinson that afternoon,
and placed in the lowest class, where he had the
felicity of doing two or three sums with a great
deal of help, and looked about for the rest of the
time till tempus ludendi was proclaimed.
When this welcome period arrived, Louis,
Clifton, and Frank, with one or two others, con-
gregated in the play-ground to discuss the events
of the holidays. There were many expressions
of regret that Reginald and Meredith had not
returned, and many inquiries about Vernon,
whose collegiate fame was known to manv at
Dr. Wilkinson's.
"And so Meredith is going to read at Dash-
wood ? — he's a happy fellow," said Frank. " I
only wish I were going somewhere. I wanted
very much to persuade my father to that step,
but he was unpersuadeable. They always seem
so glad to get rid of me. However, one thing is
agreeably decided, that I leave school at Michael-
mas, and matriculate in October at Trinity."
DASHWOOD PBIOBT. 57
"Oxford or Cambridge ?" asked one.
" As if there could be any doubt/' answered
Frank, contemptuously. " Do you think I should
patronize Oxford at all ? and nothing less than
Christ Church there, if you please. No, Cam-
bridge, man, which my father and my father's
father honoured before me."
" I suppose you mean to rival Vernon ? " said
one.
" That remains to be seen. One such lumi-
nary is enough for the family honour. I am
looking forward to a little ease and rest after the
fatigues of school. Don't you think that fair,
Louis ? "
" I am beginning to be of opinion that we are
not intended to rest in this life," answered Louis;
" and I do not think we are any the happier for
it cither."
" ' On, Frankie, on ! is the last cry of Louis.'
Oh, insatiable model of perseverance and mo-
rality ! Do you know where Hamilton is now?"
" He and Trevannion are somewhere in the
Isle of "Wight. Hamilton does not seem to be
doing very much at Oxford."
" Leave him alone," said Frank. "Hamilton
is not an intuitive genius; he is rather a slow
coach, but a vcrv sure one. He will come in
first, and be in no danger of an upset all the
way through. He knows what be knows, and
that's more than we flighty ones can say. He
will make a capital barrister."
>8
DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" He will," said another. " He is so clear-
headed, and has such a cool manner of his
own."
" As for Trevannion," continued Frank, " he's
an ass ; and it's well for him he's of a good
family, — that is to say, if he wants to get any-
thing. He is founder's kin somewhere. I pity
the poor flock who will have the misfortune to
own his tender care. He'd lead them into the
lion's den, going first himself, because he knows
no better ; and, what's more, he's so weak and so
pig-headed, he will never be any better."
" Don't say that, Frank," said Louis, gravely.
" He may, indeed, and I trust he will."
u Mortimer, have you heard about Ferrers ?"
asked one of the party.
Louis answered in the negative.
"Then there's a piece of news for you," said
Frank. " When we next go into Bristol, we will
pay him a visit."
" He lost his father about a twelvemonth ago,"
said the first speaker, " and it appears he was
greatly involved, and left him nothing. An uncle
or cousin has had pity on him, and has appren-
ticed him to a stationer in Wine-street, telling
him, as I understand, that he can't think of in-
dulging his fine gentlemanly notions — that beggars
mustn't be choosers."
" There then," said Frank.
" Pride has had a fall," said another. " No
one can pity him much."
DASH WOOD PRIORY.
59
" Poor fellow ! " said Louis. " Is it not cnougli
to be alone in the world, poor fellow?"
u It is a just punishment for him/' said the in-
former.
"A just punishment, Williams?" said Louis,
turning round, and speaking very gravely.
" ' Thinkest thou, that they on whom the tower
of Siloam fell, were sinners above all others'? ' If
we talk of just -punishment, what do we deserve?"
"Av," said Frank, " ' if everv man had his
deserts, who shall escape whipping ' — Shakspeare,
he ni ! I did feel as sorry for him as I could, but he
was such a churl."
" Perhaps," said Williams, " he'll know how to
be civil now."
" Perhaps, so far from a judgment, it may be
for good to him," said Louis. a Have you been
to see him, Frank ?"
" He has helped me to a packet of envelopes."
" Is that all?" said Louis, earnestly.
" All ! " replied Frank ; " did you think I meant
to lower myself by companionship with a sta-
tioner's apprentice?"
" I do not think you would lower yourself by
speaking to him," said Louis.
" Chacun a son gout," answered Frank. "II
may be well enough; I can't help bis condition,
nor he neither, but it places el bar between us,
and he never was a friend of* mine. V> i m or
Hamilton placed in such a predicament, the ease
would be materially altered."
CO DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Louis was going to ask Ferrer's direction, when
the conversation was interrupted by a group of
little boys, among whom were Ethelred Salisbury
and Alfred Hamilton. The former, with a very
red face, was loudly declaiming against the injus-
tice of some assertion, apparently made by one or
all of the little party round him, and by his
indignant gestures of course only laid himself
more open to his tormentors.
" How now, Ethelred ! " exclaimed Louis.
"What's the matter?"
" The boys are teasing me ! " exclaimed Alfred,
tauntingly.
" Alfred ! " said Louis, " I am both surprised
and ashamed."
" Why, Louis ? All boys must be teased when
they come to school, and I've heard you say — "
" What's the matter, Ethelred ?" asked Louis,
cutting short Alfred's speech, and drawing Ethelred
away.
The child seemed struggling with a determina-
tion not to cry. He bit his lips very hard, and
clenched his hands, and it was not until Louis
had repeated his question, at a little distance from
the others, that he answered, —
"Alfred says I can't add three and four ! but
I can ; and it's all a lie."
" Ho ! he !" cried Frank. " Orlando Furioso !"
Lcuis looked beseechingly at Frank, and un-
doing the little hand, put it between his own, and
patted it, while he answered, with a mixture of
DASHWOOD PKIORY. (11
sweetness and gravity, " Yon mnst prove to thorn
it is not true, Ethelred. Have you been doing
any sums this afternoon?"
" Yes; I have had some very hard sums, and I
couldn't do them very well ; they forget I've never
been at school before. They were awfully hard,
Air. Mortimer."
" Given," said Frank, "the distance between
the play-ground wall and the garden gate, to find
the length of Dr. Wilkinson's desk in inches;
that was it, wasn't it?"
Ethelred looked up puzzled.
" Was not that the question?"
" Xo, sir," he replied, sulkily.
" Oh ! this was it, I dare say. If I pay four
and sixpence for a silk pocket-handkerchief, how
much do your shoes cost?"
Ethelred looked again at Frank, and then burst
out laughing.
"Ah, I sec; you can't add three and four," said
Frank.
Louis laughed too, and then said, "Don't you
think it is much better to laugh about these things
than to get in a passion?"
Ethelred hung his head.
" Come."
"Only I can't help it, because it is not true,
and nobody takes niv part hut you ; and I'm
* » 1 •
sure, Mr. Mortimer, if you had been bo teased
when vou came to school; von would have minded
it."
62 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Argumentum ad hominem" said one of them.
" But powerless here," said Frank, " as Louis
was the niost patient and good-humoured of all
teased mortals on a similar occasion."
"I don't think I was ever very cross about
teasing/' said Louis, kindly. " Perhaps I did
not mind it so much as you do ; but when the
boys see it teases you, they are encouraged to go
on. The best way is to take no notice of it ; —
laugh too."
" But I don't like them to say I don't know
how to add."
" Then get on fast, and get into another class,
and show that you are able to do as well as any
one. Get before some of them ; they won't laugh
at you then."
Ethelred's eyes sparkled.
" I will try. Mr. Mortimer. I will show them
I am as clever as they are, with all their boast-
ing ; and then I can tease too."
" Bravo ! " said Frank. " I am glad to see you
have such an amiable spirit of your own, Master
Ethelred."
Ethelrcd looked doubtfully at Frank, and then
at Louis, who was looking very gravely at him.
" Are you angry, Mr. Mortimer ? "
" Are you right, Ethelred ? I should hope,
when you have the power to tease, you will re-
member how painful you found it to be teased,
and not like to give another the same pain."
Ethelred coloured furiously, and looked rather
DASHWOOD PRIORY. G3
angry ; but Louis said no more to him, and the
tea-bell ringing, he hurried with his friends
towards the house. Ethelred walked very silently
by him till they entered. "When the party sepa-
rated, he pulled Louis aside, and whispered, " I
will think of what you said, Mr. Mortimer. I
will try to be kind."
Louis smiled, and laid his hand on the little
boy's head.
The study, or class-room, before mentioned,
was soon tilled by the two first classes when
tea was over. After Louis had ascertained what
his own duties were for the next day, he went
into the school-room to look after his proti'f/ts.
lie had soon a busy little class round him,
and was able to be of signal service to poor
Ethelred, who was in a state of mystifica-
tion respecting the different lessons required of
him. Missing one of his applicants, Louis looked
round the room, and presently discovered Alfred
Hamilton not far from him with a copy of
Xenophon before him, busily engaged in making
paper-bellows, and endeavouring to blow out the
candle, with the most hopelessly idle expression
OU his Countenance. As soon as ho had set hi
pupils lo work, Louis walked up to Alfred, and,
looking over his shoulder, asked him how Long 1*
had been engaged at this lesson.
" Oh, 1 don't know."
Have \<>u done anything else this evening
« No." '
04> DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" And how much have you to do ? — and how
much have you done ? "
Alfred laughed, and snatched the book from
his friend, who had taken hold of it.
" You ask such a heap of questions, Louis."
" But how much ? "
" As much again as half."
"And how much is half, if it is not too im-
pertinent a question."
" The quarter multiplied by two."
Louis coloured, and nearly turned away; but
he remembered Hamilton, and his own deter-
mination not to act to any boy as others had
acted to him when he needed patience and kind-
ness to his errors.
"Alfred," he said, seriously, "I suppose you
have done nothing, and that has made you dis-
satisfied with yourself, and impertinent to me.
I am afraid this day has been a wrong day alto-
gether. If you wish me to leave you alone to-
night I will ; but I warn you, that if you are not
industrious for the rest of the evening, you will
be in disgrace to-morrow. If vou want any
assistance, I shall be ready to give it when you
ask for it."
Alfred caught hold of his coat as he turned
away.
"Don't be angry, Louis. I have only done
one line, and that's the sum tottle." He gave
another puff with his last pair of bellows, and
then, putting them all into Louis' hands, said, —
DASHWO0D PRIORY. G5
" There, Pll make you a present of them, —
t£t\avvtt, — oh, tins beastly stuff* ! I really never
can do it. What's the use of knowing how many
hoplites there were, and how many demons
guarded each city ? I think Greek was invented
to make boys miserable.'"'
" Oh, Alfred ! how can you be such a baby."
"It's all very well for a scholar like you to
talk."
" And how do you suppose I became a scholar,
— by kicking my legs about, and dog's-earing my
books ? "
" Yes, of course."
" Give me your book, and let me see what you
can do."
Alfred groaned, sighed, kicked the form, put
his elbows on the desk, laid his head thereon, and
a few minutes after finally shoved himself as far
as possible on the form, and, poking his head
under the desk, grunted out a line and a half,
concluding with, — " We never get a bit of play
now, Louis. When will you play the judge
again ?"
" Not on Saturday night, when you have less
time than usual. Come, Alfred, what's the
next? Now do lift up your head, and look at the
book."
" 1 never can be industrious at classics, they
are such beastly stuff. Now, mathematics, — I
don't mind how long I am about them."
" 1 think you don't mind how loug you are
Y
66 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
about Greek either," said Louis, " or you would
have done this long ago."
"Oh!" groaned Alfred again, and down went
his head again under the desk. " It's too bad of
Mr. Norton to set us such hard lessons. Now,
Louis, you are too particular ; let me rest myself
a minute ; you're always at me so."
Louis got the head up again, and, with the most
exemplary patience, brought Master Alfred safely
through three more lines before the little boys
were summoned to bed, and by dint of great ex-
ertions, he accomplished another three before the
time arrived when he knew the younger ones
would be in bed, when he ran upstairs to fulfil a
previous promise of telling them a little story,
after they were in bed. As he came downstairs,
he met the second division going to bed, and
among them was Alfred Hamilton.
" Oh, Louis ! good night ; I've been wishing I
was a little boy, that I might have been upstairs
with you. I see I have tired you to-night, haven't
I, Louis ? Haven't I ? now do say."
" Never mind that now, Alfred ; think over it
all by yourself."
" I know I have ; I'm a bad fellow, Louis. I
could fling my own books at my head, Louis. I
will do better. I will be more kind to Ethelred ;
indeed, I was sorry."
Louis shook hands very warmly, and whispered
a few words of advice to him, and dashing his
hand across his eyes, Alfred ran upstairs. To his
DASIIWOOD PRIORY. 67
great delight, Louis found, on retiring to rest,
that Hamilton's old room was now to be his, and
it was directly arranged in his own mind that
Alfred and Ethelred should come to him every
morning, as Alfred had been in the habit of doing
with his brother. His heart went up in thankful-
ness to his heavenly Father, who had provided
this quiet retreat for him ; and soothed by silent
meditation after the excitement of the day, he fell
asleep, while breathing prayers for all the dear
ones at home.
t 2
68 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER V.
" In the bosom joy and grief
Ever cling together ;
Calm and tempest, pain and pleasure,
Days of trouble, hours of leisure,
Come like April weather.
-
" "Where a shower falls to-day,
Flowers may bloom to-morrow ;
In the cottage, in the palace,
Sweet and bitter fill the chalice, —
Mirth is twin'd with sorrow.
" Trust to Him who hangs the bow
On the shower's glancing ;
If we firmly bear our sadness,
He will turn our grief to gladness,
In the days advancing."
Mendelssohn's Part-Song.
" All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expe-
dient. All things are lawful, but I will not be brought under
the power of any." — 1 Cor. vi. 12.
All Louis 5 warmth and generous sympathy had
been roused by the account of poor Ferrers, and he
had determined to pay him a visit at the earliest
opportunity. Nearly a fortnight elapsed, however,
before the opportunity arrived. About this time
Louis received a letter from Reginald giving a
detailed account of all home doings, and more
particularly of the dangerous illness of Vernon.
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 69
"You remember," said Reginald, "his slipping
into the mill-pond the day before you left us, and
how much we laughed. Ah ! Louis, how near
smiles and tears are. We do not know what we
laugh at. Well, vou remember how obstinate
Vernon was about hurrying home, and it seems
now that, even after all, he actually sat in his wet
clothes three quarters of an hour, writing two
notes, for fear of being too late for the post. The
consequence was, that the next day he had a tre-
mendous cold on his chest, with fever and shiver-
ing, which terminated in violent inflammation of
the lungs. lie savs he felt burning hot in the
night, and got up and opened the window and sat
by it till he had a shivering fit, when he got into
bed again. I cannot tell vou how very anxious
we have been; Uncle and Aunt Digby have been
here. At one time no one expected he would get
over it ; but thank God, thank God, Louis, with ib,
he is now recovering rapidly, and Dr. S says,
with God's blessing and care, will do very well.
Poor Uncle Frank, I never saw anything like his
anguish when it was thought Vernon must die.
Oli ! how sad it is that he has no religion to com-
fort him. Vernon i> serious, and seems very
thankful for his rccoverv : he was too ill for
much reflection, Louis, but I hope he will never
forget this time. Meredith has been SO kind
and thoughtful. He has tried to make up for
you (indeed we wanted yon), 1 am sure bis prayers
have been with us. Vernon is to go tor a cruise
70 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
on the Mediterranean as soon as he is strong
enough. Uncle Clarence has promised his yacht,
and George Vernon, Neville, and I, accompany
him. I wish you were to be one of the
party."
There was much in this long letter that made
Louis both thoughtful and thankful, though his
cousin Frank remarked alternately upon the im-
proper manner in which he had been treated, in
not hearing sooner of his brother's illness, and the
good thing it was he had been spared the anxiety
the news would have excited earlier. Louis was
much pleased with the chastened tone of his
brother's letter, and now the danger was over, he
was glad, like Frank, that he had been kept in
ignorance.
Two days after this came a half-holiday, and
Louis obtained permission to take Alfred and
Ethelred to Bristol. The long walk was pleasantly
beguiled by one of Louis' inexhaustible stories,
and when they reached Wine-street, Louis left his
companions in a toy-shop, to choose anything they
liked, and went back to a stationer's they had
passed. He stepped in rather hesitatingly. To
his great satisfaction there was only one person in
the shop, and in him he immediately recognised
his quondam schoolfellow, as he was very little
grown, and still bore the old expression of sullen
indifference. He did not appear to recognize
Louis, and replied to his demand for some writing
paper by bringing down from a shelf a packet of
P.71
Louis at the Stationer's.
DASHW00D PRIORY. 71
the required article, and placing it on the counter
with the most dogged expression of apathy, untied
it without a word.
" This will do ; what is it a quire V* asked Louis.
u Ninepence," replied Ferrers.
" I will have two quires, if you please."
The two quires were laid aside in the same
manner, the rest of the paper fastened up, and
Louis' purchase made up and handed to him as ii
the apprentice, instead of a human being, were a
machine made for putting away and tying up
parcels; Louis drew out his purse, and as lie
laid the money on the counter, looked steadily
at him.
" Ferrers, have you forgotten me ?"
A deep crimson blush answered in the negative,
but there was no further reply.
" I came to see you."
" That you might look down upon me."
It was now Louis' turn to colour, but he replied
gently, as he held out his hand :
" I know you do not think so, Ferrers ; why
should I ? why should any one look down on
you? I think you are the one who looks down.
Are you too proud to shake hands with an old
schoolfellow ?"
Ferrers took Louis' hand as though he would
have let it fall.
"You have had much sorrow, Ferren ; 1 have
been very grieved to hear of it; 1 cannot tell you
how much I feel for you. It is very mysterious
72 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
why we are so dealt with ; why one is spared and
another laden."
Just then another customer entered, and from
the opposite side of the shop the master, who,
seeing a young gentleman in conversation with
his apprentice, begged him to step inside, and
desiring Ferrers to take him to the back-parlour,
he attended himself to the shop. Here they were in
privacy, but as Ferrers still retained his stolidity,
Louis felt a little awkwardness in pursuing the
subject he had at heart.
" I know it is very easy for us to talk to one
another of resignation," he said again ; " however
much we may sympathize we cannot understand
another's bitterness. Resignation is what God
gives in His own good time, dear Ferrers ; we are
allowed to weep, and to weep with one another,
for Jesus wept."
Louis' affectionate eves were full of emotion,
but Ferrers saw them not, though he heard the
quivering tone of his voice : he replied sullenly :
" I don't want anyone's sympathy — I am
enough for myself."
" No one is that, Ferrers : I am sure vou do
want sympathy. It is that very want that makes
you spurn it when it is offered."
" I don't want it from you, then," he replied,
in a softened voice.
" And why not from me ?"
There was a pause.
1 ' Because you will not believe me sincere ? "
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 73
u I don't believe you come to carry the tale of
what the apprentice is doing, and how he looks.
I know you are above that ; but I cannot bear
that you, above all, should think about me and
feel for me. You had better go and forget all
about me : I shall do ; things never went too
straight with me."
" I cannot go till vou look more brijrhtlv on
things," replied Louis. " Come, Ferrers, if school-
boys are always to harp upon bygones what would
become of us all ? You must not look so darkly
upon your sorrows ; it is not resignation to be
callous. Perhaps you do not know how much
love there may be in this weight of sorrow ; I
know it is a weight."
" Love," repeated Ferrers. " Cast out of my
position — " he murmured something which Louis
could not catch.
"The Lord castcth down and raiseth up,
Ferrers ; do not close your heart, but pray that
God will work His own great work in this afflic-
tion : when that is done, He may raise you up
again ; He can. He that humblcth himself shall
be exalted. He can find you friends and meana
too. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and
He shall strengthen your heart. Will vou not
come and sec me at Aahfield P I have Hamilton's
room now, and I am sure Dr. Wilkinson will
allow me to see you there. Do you continue your
.studies now ? "
" What would be the use ? I see none."
74 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" What use did you intend them to be ? Is it
not a pity to let your talents lie fallow V*
" Where would be the good, when I am debarred
from entering the university V
"But is that the only end of study?" asked
Louis. " Is there no pleasure in it for its own
sake; no advantage from it but such as can be
gained through college ? I need not remind you
of the many other callings it fits us for ; I know
you better, Ferrers ; it will do you good in
strengthening your mind. Besides, how can you
say that there never will be any opening for you
in Oxford : how many poor men get in there.
Fit yourself and try for a scholarship, and I think
there are some societies here for sending men to
the universities."
" Ay, for the Church ; and, bad as I am, I would
not be a clergyman for mere gain."
"Oh no, to be sure not!" exclaimed Louis,
warmly. "You may thank God He gives you
this feeling; but try, hope on — as we say at
school, 'never say die;' — you have not tried how
many shots there are in the locker yet."
A slight smile passed over Ferrers' face.
" Hope was the last thing which left Pandora's
box, Louis," he said.
" So it was," answered Louis. " We don't hear
that it ever left it ; and, dear Ferrers, is it not
wrong to give up hope as long as God gives us
health, and talents, and strength ? I want you to
look up to Him."
IIWOOD PRIORY. 75
Ferrers sat down and leaned his head on the
table.
" Oh, Louis ! " he said, " my father said look
to Him ; I believe he did himself. Oh, Louis, he
was such a father; too good for me. Very unfor-
tunate, very unfortunate." He could hardly
articulate the last -words. Louis' hand was kindly
laid on his arm, and Ferrers did not repulse him
this time.
" I have deserved it all. I was not to him
what I ought to have been — my only friend ; but
I could say, 'my punishment is greater than I can
bear/ »
" You must not think so," said Louis. " God
is love, trust Him; He is light, look at Him,
and He will lighten you ; He wall rise on you
with healing in His wings. I have prayed, and
I trust I shall prey for you ; but you must pray
for yourself. Now, will you come and see me?
Promise you will."
'* I have little time," said Ferrers.
"Enough for that sometimes, have you not?"
" Perhaps."
"Promise then, God willing, that you will
come."
" 1 will try."
"Thank you; now I must bid you good bye,
for I have Alfred Hamilton and Eth sired Saliaburj
waiting for me at the toy-shop (Fred Balisbur
youn i brother but one)."
"Thank you, Louis," said Ferrers, rising; " I
76 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
think you are what I always thought you — nearly
an angel."
"Hush!"
" May your God bless you, and — may He be
my God also."
"Amen/' said Louis, and they pressed each
others hands.
Louis returned to his charge.
"What a long time you have been, Louis!"
exclaimed Alfred ; "I was coming to look after
vou."
" It seemed long to you, I suppose, because you
were ready ; well, have you made your choice ? "
" I should like this paint-box," said Alfred ;
" and Salisbury wants a pencil-case."
" Very well ; now Ethelred, choose one of these
three," said Louis, selecting three from the heap
before him."
" May I really have one ? I thought it would
be too much money."
" Alfred's not so modest," said Louis, laughing.
" To be sure not ; what's the use of being told
to choose what vou like, if vou choose some-
thing you don't like ; I told Ethelred you'd heaps
of money."
" Not exactly heaps," replied Louis, " but
enough for your wants to-day. Now we must go ;
I have to call at another place as we go home.
Have vou made vour choice, Ethelred?"
The purchases were paid for, and they left the
shop. They were rather late when the last
DASHWOOD 1 RIOBY. 77
( rrand was done, and made up for lost time by
running races over the downs, and by this means
reached home just in time for tea.
As Louis took his place at the tea-table, Frank
handed him a little note.
" Ouvrez, ouvrez rite ! I have been on the
stilts of curiosity the last hour. A liveried
Mercury on horseback left it at the door an hour
ago, and it is such a dainty little perfumed billet
that Trevannion would have rejoiced to touch ; it
would not have defiled even his white hands."
Louis opened it with some curiosity.
" It is a note from Mrs. Fraser inviting you
and me to a musical party, Frank, on Tuesday ."
"Mrs. Fraser for ever!" exclaimed Frank;
" she's worth her weight in bank notes, a diamond
of the first water, Louis, eh? 1 think, however,
considering that I am the senior of the two
cousins, the letter ought to have becu addressed
to me. Of course, you will return a dainty
answer to-night."
" I don't think I can get it sent to-night, it is
too late and too far."
"To morrow, then; — oh, botheration! Fudge
is so particular about Sunday notes."
"I dare say Monday will be quite soon enough
tor Mrs. Fraser," said Louis. " Our going or not
going is not a matter of such vast importance to
her."
" 1 know better," said Prank ; " she's de-
pending upon us for basses, or tenor-. 01 some-
78 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
thing of the kind ; and if it were not particularly
convenient to me to be accommodating enough
to give myself a change, I shouldn't go. Besides,
tall and engaging young men are always at a
premium at parties."
" But not hobbledehoys, Frank."
"Speak for yourself, my friend, — speak for
yourself/' cried Frank ; " I consider myself a
man, and, having worn tails and stickups for two
or three years, feel entitled to be considered so
by others. In a few weeks I shall be an uni-
versity man ; who talks of hobbledehoys there,
Mr. Louis ? "
" "Well, I beg your pardon, I am sorry I
offended your dignity," replied Louis. " We'll
suppose you a man for argument's sake, as you
say, and that you intend to give Mrs. Fraser the
felicity of seeing you, to sing Italian trios, &c. ;
and I may write to that purport ? "
"Assuredly, for they give an excellent spread,
and there is a passable re-union, — materials for
a little amusement. Now you have done, let us
descend and talk, — as the ladies do directly they
receive an invitation, — about what we shall wear.
I think, Louis," he added, as he hooked his arm
into his cousin's, " I shall wear my second-best
black trousers, — my best are unfortunately short,
— and, let me see, my sprigged white waistcoat.
Do you think that's good enough ? — and the coat
— oh, ought I to order one ? Mine has no satin
lining ; I can't possibly go without a satin lining.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 70
It is such fan to hear mamma and Charlotte dis-
cussing the proprieties, when a card of invitation
comes. Well, now, after such confidence, -what
have you to say ? "
" Suppose I am not going ? " said Louis.
" Well, what then ? " said Frank.
u Can you go without me ? "
" Did I not tell you I am a man ? "
" I am glad to hear that, for I don't intend
to go."
" Of course," said Frank.
" I really am in earnest, Frank."
Frank suddenly stopped in the hall, which they
had now reached, and dragging Louis to the
lamp, looked in his face for a few seconds with
deep attention."
" Nonsense, Louis ; you don't mean it ? "
"I do, though."
" And why, in the name of all patience ?
Here, Smith ! "
" Hush ! " said Louis, putting his hand on his
cousin's mouth ; " I cannot explain reasons to
him. Keep your counsel, and go without me."
" In the name of patience, what reason can
vou have ? "
■
"A good one," said Louis. "But I tell vou,
candidly, I do not expect you to sympathise with
it; and perhaps I had better not tell you."
" No, — let's hear it, pray," said Frank, impa-
tiently.
80 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" What a long confabulation you are having,"
said Smith, coming up : " any secrets ? "
"Yes," said Louis.
" I think I heard my name just now."
" We are not talking of you," said Louis.
" Here's Louis declaring he doesn't mean to go
to Mrs. Fraser's on Tuesday," said Frank.
" Not go ? " exclaimed one. " What's the row
now?"
" 111 ? " exclaimed another.
"Why?" asked Smith. "I only wish Mrs.
Fraser had asked me."
Louis detached himself from Frank rather has-
tily, and, pushing through the boys, walked deter-
minedly away, without answering, into the school-
room, and calling Alfred and Ethelred, set to
work with them.
" I can't tell what's come to him," said Frank.
" He's offended, I suppose, that I told you. Some
new sanctimonious rigmarole he has got into his
head, I suppose. He need not have been such a
spoil-sport, however. I am sure Doctor won't let
me go by myself."
" It's very sneaking of him," said Smith.
" He's always such a wet blanket on anything
that's merry," said Frank.
"But he went last half with you."
" So he did," replied Frank, " and was full of
qualms about the music that was sung. Didn't
like the words of this, — didn't like the association
of that."
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 81
" But, surely, he didn't say so there?"
" Not he," answered Frank ; " he hasn't pluck
enough. He looked shy, sang everything, and
solaced his conscience by abusing everything, as
we walked home."
"What a donkey he is," said "Williams. " lie
wants a good shaking, to get these absurdities out
of him. He'll never be good for anything."
"I won't allow that," said Sutton. "He's a
great deal better than any of us, though we may
not like all he does. But, Digby, does he object
to all songs? I've often heard him sing them."
" No, that's where it is," replied Frank, " and
he can only be doing this on purpose to hinder
me from going."
" I dare say it's only a little fun : he'll go fast
enough," said Louis' defender. "We'll laugh
him out of it."
They walked a few minutes in the playground,
and then returned in a body to the house, passing
by Louis with the intention of badgering hi in
about his ungraciousness, but he was so sur-
rounded with his jrroti'i/vs, that they felt it was a
hopeless ease, and as he afterwards Bpent an hour
with Dr. Wilkinson, he did not come among them
; L r ain till bed-time.
Prayers were no sooner over than an attack on
Louis commenced, simultaneously with the rush
upstairs. In vain he strove to run n|> without
making any explicit answers ; he was pinioned by
a dozen hands, and as many voices declared tin ■ v
82 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
would know " the why " before he went into his
room.
" It's very shabby of you, Mortimer !" cried one.
"Now parson, where' s the sermon ?" exclaimed
another.
"Put him up in the pulpit!" said a third.
" Make him confess."
" You give me no time to speak/' said Louis,
with heightened colour.
" Silence in the court \" cried Smith.
" Will you promise to let me go when I have
spoken?" said Louis.
"When you say you'll go, or give us your
reasons for not going."
"I shall do neither the one nor the other,"
answered Louis. " I do not mean to go ; I have
a sufficient reason, which I will tell Frank, though
he must confess he has not behaved very gene-
rously this evening."
" I like your talking of generosity," said Frank.
" I have asked the Doctor's leave for you to go
alone, and he has given it," said Louis, quickly.
" And Frank, I beg your pardon if I have seemed
rude and unkind, but you really gave me no time
to explain myself; if you wish for a reason, I will
give you one in my own room."
" Much obliged to you," replied Frank, scorn-
fully. "But I can tell the assembled company
your reasons as well as you can. They sing a
great number of ungodly songs at Mr. Fraser's,
gentlemen, not fit for a saint to sing, and they
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 83
happen to be clothed in such fascinating guise,
that he is tempted when he is there, and can't say
he won't sing them ; so he keeps out of the way
like a good saint, and won't go to please such a
sinner as myself."
Louis stood irresolutely on the stairs as the
hands that held him relaxed their hold. "You
do not understand me, Frank ; I cannot expect it."
"I understand every bit of it," said Frank,
sneeringly, "better than you do yourself. You
are a rare Methodist, that never was intended for
school, making yourself the laughing-stock of
every one that sees and hears you. I'll take care
Mr. Fraser knows why you are not there."
" You must, if you will," said Louis. " Good
night. Come, let me pass if you please."
" Ay, pass ! pass ! pass ! sainted martyr," echoed
on all sides, while Frank's voice, above the others,
continued in a tone of pique, —
" ' Ay, do persecute me ; 1 loves to be perse-
cuted.' "
Louis ran upstairs and took refuge in his own
room, and thankful was he to have so quiet a
refuge, lie sat down panting with his exertions,
and pressed his head in his hands.
How precious it was to feel that ONE knew
everything, and though not a word could tell
his wants and perplexities, his thoughts were
all "known long before." Once his door was
rudely unlatched, as his schoolfellows passed, and
thrown wide open, and after he had recloscd it
oJi
84 DASHWOOD miORY.
and locked it, two or three tumbled against it.
The mirth of his aggressors was at last cut
short, before they reached their rooms, by a
stern voice.
" Young gentlemen ! I am thoroughly ashamed
of you. Digby ! is this worthy of you ? But
that I know it would be a trouble to Mortimer, I
would not trust you by yourself on Tuesday night.
Remember, you owe it to him that I do not at
once say you shall not go. If I hear auy more of
this, young gentlemen, I shall visit it severely on
you all."
He then waited on the landing till each was in
his room.
Frank's worst feelings were now in the ascend-
ant, and Louis reaped the fruits in studied coldness
and marked neglect from his cousin and his par-
tizans the next morning ; but in the course of the
afternoon he watched his opportunity when Frank
was upstairs, and persuaded him to come into his
room for a few minutes. " Only a few minutes,
Frank," he said. Frank's lip curled, and he
hesitated, but finally, ungraciously allowed himself
to be led in, though he would only stand near the
door, with a cloudy brow, as if he just endured
the explanation Louis wished to give. " Frank,
I cannot tell you how sorry I am that we should
quarrel."
" It's your own affair," said Frank, sullenly.
" You know I cannot tell all the boys what I
tell you, Frank. You are quite right about the
DA8HW00D PBIORY. 85
reason wliy I cannot go to the party. I am not
sure, in the first place, that the excitement would
not be very bad for me in the middle of school;
and then, I candidly confess, that I cannot bear
the things they sing. Are Christian voices
intended to be used in such love songs and
Bacchanalian ditties ? I feel, at least, that / am
wrong in singing them ; I cannot think I do it to
God's glorv."
" But who thinks of the meaning of Italian
souks ? it is but so mauv svllablcs," said Frank.
" If I did not understand them I should never
have thought of it : I believe half the people
tiiat sing those things do not understand a word,
and they are no more to them than do, re, mi, & ;
but my Latin helps me a little; and then again,
those English things we sang last I did not
admire."
" It's very polite of you to condemn every one
else as you do," replied Frank.
" I do not condemn others," said Louis,
eagerly ; " I only know what is best for myself.
It others do not think there is any harm, there is
none, perhaps, for them ; but as I do, it cannot
be right for me. Do not think me unkind,"
he added, earnestly; "you cannot tell how very
hard 1 have found it to say that 1 would not
go, if it were but for your sake. 1 knew you
would Dot see it, Frank, but that OUght not to
hinder me in doing wh;it I know is right for me.
I am too much influenced bv others, and now
86 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Reginald and Hamilton are both gone, I confess
I am rather afraid of myself."
" But surely you can refuse to sing those things
you don't like ; there are plenty of harmless ones
besides."
Louis shook his head. " You know I had not
courage before, and I dare not hope I should
again, if I put myself in the way. We cannot
judge for one another, Frank. I feel that these
assemblies do not suit me, Frank, — that they dis-
tract me too much ; and I feel sure I ought not
to go."
" But," persisted Frank, " you sing heaps of
things of your own that I think are little, if any,
better than Mrs. Fraser's favourites."
"Well, I don't think them so," said Louis,
gently. " The right or wrong of an action
depends upon our feeling of it, often : if our
consciences cannot believe it right, it must be
wrong to us, even though all the world call it
harmless. I do not mean to say, Frank, that we
know all right and wrong by our feelings ; but if
we think a thing wrong, it becomes wrong to us.
I always try to ask myself when I am thinking of
doing anything, — Can I do this to God's glory ?
and if I cannot answer yes, I feel I ought not to
do it."
"Well, you've a right to your own way of
thinking," said Frank, shortly; "but like many
of your ways, it is rather an odd one. There
ought to be a new world for you saints."
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 8?
"There is an old madrigal we sing at home
sometimes," said Louis, "that expresses my feel
ings quite on love-sick poetry : — "
" ' Oh, that the learned poets of this time,
Who in a love-sick line so well can speak,
Would not consume good wits in hateful rhyme,
But with deep care some better subject seek :
For if their music please in earthly things,
How would it sound if strung with heavenly strings.' "
" Well, I suppose you have said all you have to
say," said Frank.
"Are we friends, Frank ?" said Louis, holding
out his hand.
Frank took it coldly, and then left the room.
For some days he and some of his adherents were
very cool towards Louis, till some quiet act of
self-denial charmed them out of their frigidity,
and his meekness was rewarded by a complete
'•i -toration to their favour.
88 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER VI.
"Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation ; and
Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath
made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that
my feet did not slip.
" My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of
my heart, and my portion for ever." — Psalms, xviii. 35, 36 ;
lxxiii. 26.
It was some days before Ferrers , summoned up
courage or found time to return Louis' call.
Louis had informed Dr. Wilkinson of all that had
passed, and had obtained his permission to give
Ferrers audience in the Doctor's private dining-
room. Dr. Wilkinson also invited Ferrers to
spend the evening with him, and subsequently
followed up all Louis' kind endeavours for his
benefit, by stimulating him, assisting his studies,
and cheering him, with the hope of doing some-
thing for the future for himself.
It must not, however, be supposed that the
Doctor encouraged these efforts of his old pupil
by the air-castles Louis drew of restoration to his
former state of life. The Doctor's, though less
delightful, was a more healthy view, when he set
before him contentment with his present lot, and
urged him to a desire of doing the work given
DASHWOOD PRIOBY. 89
him in the station to which he had been so plainly
called.
Michaelmas, at length, arrived. Frank Digby
bade a final adieu to his school life, and entered at
Cambridge. Louis being now one of the elder
boys in the school, and having been a twelve-
month in the first class, his master stimulated him
to keep the first place there. There were one or
two in the class of greater industry and energy
than himself — of whom Charles Clifton was one,
— who save him considerable trouble in maintain-
ine this situation. Manv times he felt inclined
to yield the struggle, and only roused himself by
the reflection, " It is mv dutv," to continue the
contest, which was, though he was unconscious of
it, too much for his strength. He had grown
very fast for some months ; but Dr. Wilkinson
had become so accustomed to his attenuated figure
and pale face that they caused no anxiety, espe-
cially as his efforts were in no way relaxed ;
and knowing Louis' constitutional indolence and
dreaminess, he urged him on to renewed exer-
tions, in the hope of haying his favourite pupil
hifl head boy, knowing nothing of the little tinu
Louis took for recreation, — how constantly all,
and more than all, his spare time was given to
others, — how anxious he was to do all the good
that lav in his little sphere, — that, rather than
relinquish any of his plans of usefulness among
his younger schoolfellows, he often sat np in his
Own room an hour or two at night, and rose an
90 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
hour earlier in the morning to prepare his own
lessons. In order to give him every advantage
in his power, Dr. Wilkinson often gave him
private lessons after school hours ; and this un-
ceasing routine at last brought its attendant train
of weariness, languor, violent headaches, and
sleepless nights. But, in spite of fits of yawning,
and greater disinclination than ever to general
exertion, Louis had now so thoroughly attained
to a habit of regular and constant employment,
and had so great a fear of neglecting any talent
committed to him, that he worked steadily and
patiently on, winning the respect and esteem of
all, and the warm love of many around him. The
second quarter was nearly over, the examination
papers were just given out, and Louis had been
consulting with idle Alfred one morning on his
plans of operation, and had dismissed him a few
minutes before the school-bell rang, to look over
a translation of a portion of the CEdipus Tyrannus
of Sophocles, which he had been rendering into
English verse. His head swam so much that he
could hardly decipher the letters, and, after a
vain attempt to collect his ideas or to guide his
pen, he laid it aside, and went into the open air
to revive himself. As he passed out of the school-
room, Alfred caught his hand. " You are ill,
Louis. I am sure you are. What can I get for
you ? "
" Only give me your shoulder a few minutes,
he replied, faintly. " Air, — I want air
IIUUXCS,
DASHWOOD riUOiU J\
" Open the door, Smith/' cried Alfred ; " Louis
is ill."
" Hallo, Mortimer ! " exclaimed Smith, as he
flung open the portal. " Are you your own
wraith? Why, man alive, what's come over
you? There, heaven's own breeze will refresh
you. You get too little of heaven's breezes. Why
don't you get out oftener?"
Louis thanked him with a smile, and with his
and Alfred's help got to a seat a little beyond
the door, and in a few minutes seemed much
better.
" What was the matter?" asked Smith, kindly.
" I'll tell Doctor you are not fit to come into
class this morning; you've got such white lips,
and look like a fainting lady. I'll tell you what,
Louis," he added, " you do too much and you're
not strong enough ; we've said so hundreds of
times — you're too good by far : when you've got
so much to do for yourself, you shouldn't do so
much for others ; flesh and blood won't stand it."
" I am sure I think enough of myself," replied
Louis.
" Lots of us wish we were like you in some
things," said Smith, " but it is not our nature, you
know ; I'll tell you what, Louis, — it is not ;m BSffj
thin- to go on steadily in the face of ridicule,
peraerering in doing all you can fc* i • ry one,
and I know that there is scarcely I of tin felloWfl
that has laughed at you, that doesn't feel how
much better you are than any of us, and doesn't
92 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
wish to be like you, because yours isn't all talk,
like some people's religion."
" Are you better, Mortimer ? " asked several
voices.
He was presently surrounded by several mem-
bers of the first class. — " What's the matter ? "
" Thank you, I am quite well, now," said Louis,
rising. " There's the school-bell. How kind you
all are."
" Come, that's a good story ! You are sarcastic
this morning," said another.
" Come, St. Louis, take my arm," said a third ;
" you're a good sort of fellow, in spite of your
methodism. You look more like heaven than
earth at present. I think your mother will say
the holidays don't come too soon."
Louis protested that he was quite well again,
and they proceeded to the class-room, and soon
the business of the day commenced. Louis took
his place as head of the first class, and began to
read aloud his poetical translation. He had pro-
ceeded nearly half through, when the paper ceased
to be legible, the same misty swimming of the
head returning ; and scarcely conscious of an ex-
clamation from his master and class-fellows in a
breath, he fell insensible on the floor, his fall a
little broken by Smith, who stood near him.
A scene of confusion ensued, and when Louis
opened his eyes, he found himself supported in his
master's arms, raised upon two chairs near the
open window; one or two servants, and Mrs.
DASHW00D PRIORY. 93
Wilkinson near him with cold water and other
restoratives. The first words he heard before he
opened his eyes were from his master : " Poor
fellow ! I ought to have guarded against this; he
is quite overdone." Louis tried to speak, but was
only able to turn a look of earnest affection on
his master, deprecating his self-accusation.
It was many minutes before he could speak so
as to be intelligible. The utmost concern was on
the faces of all present; one of the servants was
lying, and his schoolfellows stood in a kind of
awestruck silence, looking as if they never ex-
pected him to move again.
Dr. \Yilkinson spoke cheerfully to him, and as
soon as he appeared strong enough, proposed his
removal to the drawing-room sofa. He had just
strength enough to reach it, with the joint assist-
ance of the Doctor and one of his schoolfellows,
when he fainted again. Dr. "Wilkinson sent im-
mediately for the medical man, and was seriously
alarmed at the length of this second fit. It was
more than an hour before Smith, who had run
full speed for the doctor, returned, and by this
time Louis was better, and comfortablv established
iiear the drawing-room fire, with a warm Bhaw]
Of Mrs. Wilkinson's over his feet. The Doctor
hail been obliged to leave him, but Mrs. Wilkin-
son was sitting by him, and caring most tenderly
lor all his possible wants. He laj very quietly
gasing out of the window, almost too weak to
wonder how he came there.
94 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Well, my young friend, I hear a curious tale
of you. Who ever heard of a school-boy fainting ?"
said the medical gentleman. "You are better
now, are you not V*
Louis smiled.
" He is very weak, Mr. Whalley," said Mrs.
Wilkinson.
The doctor sat down by Louis, and after hearing
all that was to be heard, cheerfully took his leave,
promising to send some medicine, and, asking to see
Dr. Wilkinson in another room, shook hands with
the invalid. Louis looked very sorrowfully at him.
"What do you mean to ask by that earnest
look?" said the gentleman.
" Am I in danger ?"
" I thought so," replied Mr. Whalley, kindly.
"No, cheer up; you want taking care of.
You must put by Latin and Greek, and all the
E. D. for a time, and I hope we shall soon see
' Richard himself again.' You were never very
robust, I believe ; I shall order the very accept-
able prescription of home for you as soon as you
are a little better; but don't frighten yourself,
there's no danger."
Louis' pale countenance flushed, and he
clasped his hands. "I am very foolish," he
murmured inwardly ; " but, oh my Father, my
heart and flesh faileth."
Mr. Whalley wished him good-bye and left the
room ; and soon calmed and pacified, Louis fell
into a quiet sleep.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 95
Mr. Whalley advised that his parents should be
written to, and that he should be removed as soon
as possible. " He wants perfect rest and quiet ;
and a mother's sympathy will be the best thing
for him : I do not think his lungs are affected,
but in his weak state I should advise Torquay or
the Isle of "Wight for the winter. He seems a
delicate plant, but they often weather a storm
that splits the tree."
Nothing could exceed the kindness and atten-
tion shown to Louis by his master and Mrs. Wil-
kinson. He was removed to a light and prettily-
furnished room on a cheerful side of the house,
away from all noise, and here he lay the greater
part of the day, being carried down in the evening
to the drawing-room sofa. His weakness was so
excesMvc that a sudden noise would bring on a
fainting fit, and Dr. Wilkinson would not allow
him to risk anything by walking to the drawing-
room. It was the middle of the third day alter
Ins first attack that his parents arrived, and were
almost immediately shown up into his room.
He was asleep, and they stood for some time
looking silently on his thin white face, noticing
his sunken eyes, with the black rings around
them, and his long white fingers that lay on the
bed-clothes. Before he awoke tiny retired out of
sight, that he might be quietly informed of their
arrival; for quietly as it was told him it was
almost too much for him.
It W8J several days before he was strong enough
96 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
to be removed, even to Clifton, where Mr. Mortimer
had taken lodgings in Louis' favourite crescent.
During these few days Mr. Mortimer mixed now
and then with the boys, and on every side he
heard, from masters and pupils, the praises of his
dear boy. Alfred, whose grief was excessive, had
a general invitation to come to York-crescent
whenever Dr. Wilkinson would allow him. At
length Louis was removed, and when in the
crescent, by the instrumentality of careful nursing
and daily airings, he gradually grew strong enough
to take a longer journey, and by the united advice
of several medical men, he set out for Torquay
one fine day in the middle of December. There
was then no railway between Bristol and Exeter,
and their journey was performed in a post-chaise.
Louis had been very much depressed for some
days before his departure, and this morning he
was more so than ever. He felt he could not
confess to his parents why he dreaded the change,
and how the name of Torquay sounded as a knell
to him. Long had he knelt that morning in
prayer that it might be his Heavenly Father's will
that he might recover his strength ; earnestly had
lie pleaded the tears and effectual petition of
Hezekiah ; like him he had Avept sore ; and then
he felt that his will was unsubdued, and he
mourned that he could not rejoice in the thought
of that glorious deliverance from sin and the body
of death. All his thoughts seemed dark and
sorrowful, and all he cguld .say was, " O Lord !
D.YsJlWOOD PRIORY. 97
send out Thy light and truth ; let them lead me.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Thou seest
through a glass darkly." And in the midst of
all he could say, tremblingly, " Though I walk
in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me."
And was this fainting confidence confounded?
Oh, how precious is that promise that the tender
iour will not break even the bruised reed.
Louis often thought of those sweet words in
Isaiah, ""Who is among you that feareth the
Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that
walketh iu darkness, and hath no light ? let him
trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his
God." " The enemy cried out fast" against him,
but underneath the fainting child of God are
'• the everlasting arms," even when he sees them
not ; and in his greatest despondency he had a
Mire hope, that all things shall work together for
>d to them that love God. "I will bring her
into the valley of Achor, and there will I speak
comfortably (to her heart) ;" and during these
18 of trouble, who shall say how often and
how sweetly the Lord speaks to the hearts of His
own. It was with a chastened and trusting,
though yet not joyful spirit, that Louis left
tin ■ of his silent, communings. "I will
trust, and not be afraid," was the reiterated
Uu of his heart: "Though He slay me,
• will I trust in Him." His lather tenderly
assisted him down the long flight of steps from
the terrace to the chaise, and tl the door
ii
98 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
stood poor Ferrers. He shrank back a little as
Mr. Mortimer approached ; but Louis caught sight
of him, and stopping, he held out his hand with
a smile.
"This is very kind of you, Ferrers. This is
my schoolfellow, William Ferrers, father."
Mr. Mortimer made some kind remarks, but
he was anxious to get his son into the carriage,
and shortened the interview.
" Will you write to me, Ferrers ? " asked Louis,
when he was seated.
" I shall be very glad," said Ferrers, shortly.
He attempted to say something, but seemed
unable, and, putting a little parcel into Louis'
hand, he walked away at a rapid rate. Louis'
father and mother were both struck with his
agitated manner, but they made no remark on
it to Louis just then. They made him take pos-
session of one seat in the carriage, and bolstered
him up comfortably with cushions. As the car-
riage passed in front of Clifton church, Louis
raised himself, and gazed earnestly on the magni-
ficent view.
" I think," said his mother, " that is the finest
peep in Clifton."
"I think so too," replied Louis, quietly; and a
moment after he added, " Oh, mamma ! what a
thing it is to live ! "What a world this would be,
if there were no sin ! I cannot think that there
can be a more beautiful place than this world,
when the sons of God shouted at its creation !
DASHWOOD l'KIOKY. O'J
!Poes not everything Beem crying, ' Conic, Lord
Jesus I' AVlan lie comes, there shall be no more
sorrow, nor crying, nor death ; the inhabitants
shall not say f I am sick/ and they shall all be
righteous."
" ' The earnest expectation of the creature wait-
eth for the manifestation of the sons of God/"
said Mr. Mortimer.
" Oh, father ! " said Louis, earnestly, " I
as if I could never get beyond that verse in that
chapter. It seems as if that verse went up with
ry to God like the cry of the children of
[srael. 'The whole creation groaneth and tra-
vailcth, and ourselves also, that have received I
iiii -fruits of the Spirit/ "
" ' Though the virion tarry, wait for it/ " 6
his mother : " ' In the end it shall come.' 'lie
that believeth in the Lord shall not make haste,
neither shall he he eonfounded/ Louis."
"But you should look to the end of the cb
. and lean on the glorious conclusion/' said
li father. "'What shall separate us from
love of Christ?' lie hath loved us with : .1
everlasting love, and nothing can separate us.
"Though clouds and darkness an iuin.il
Him, yet righl and judgment are the
habitation of His throne/ !!<• is faithful,
dear hoy ; 11- can iy himself. in < !hr
- implete, and altogether Lovely in I
1 He 1 .' thoughts thai He 1
to and not of evil. And
11 2
100 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
now, my boy, you must rest quietly, and think of
these precious truths. Let His "word be the joy
and rejoicing of your heart."
Louis did as desired ; and it seemed as if his
father had comprehended the state of his mind,
for the thoughts of peace found a resting-place in
his mind, and he lay still in calm happiness, and
neither spoke nor moved till the first stage was
completed.
When they were comfortably housed that night
in the best inn in Bridgewater, he enlarged a
little to his father on Ferrers's history, and opened
the little parcel, which he found contained an old
edition of Watts' s " Happiness of Separate Spirits."
In the envelope were a few lines.
" Dear Louis, —
" You wished to see this book a short time ago.
I could not get a new edition, and I have been a
long time hunting in the old-book shops for this.
I am glad I have found it at last, and I know I
need not apologize for its antiquity. May Tor-
quay do all that your friends must wish.
" Yours gratefully,
" W. Ferrers."
Louis could not talk enough of Ferrers's kind-
ness in hunting about for this book. It is to be
remarked, generally, that they who think they
cannot do enough for others, always esteem most
gratefully a little service done to themselves.
DASHWOOD PIUORV. 101
CHAPTER YII.
'■ Whom liave I in Heaven but Thee {"
T must now beg my reader to accompany me to a
pretty and convenient Low-built house, surrounded
bj a nice Little garden, which stands at one extre-
mity of a small sweeping bay at Torquay. The
house i> built so close to the water's edge, that at
high water the sea comes up to the garden rail-
ings : and here, upon the rustic garden-seats, have
invalids, time out of mind, watched the rise and
fall of the roaring sea. I do not know it sunl-
it ly well to describe it more accurately, thai
it may be recognised as the temporary dwelling-
place of Louis Mortimer and Vernon Digby, — foj
\ • rnon, with bis father, mother, and eldest sister,
were there awaiting Louis' arrival.
Vernon's cruise on the Mediterranean bad
apparently restored Ins health, after the violent
attack alluded to in a former chapter ; but all his
friends bad been very anxious thai he Bhould
forego the Michaelmas and Christmas terms,!
in the eyes of many, there was still considerable
delicacy about him. Vernon would, bowev<
iii ar "j" MD further nursing, as the doctors bad
kounced him well. A Little cough, small
102 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
appetite, and obvious restlessness, had made his
father rather uneasy on his return for the Christ-
mas vacation ; and though no danger was appre-
hended by the consulting physician, Devonshire
was recommended, as Vernon said, " just to please
Sir Francis ; " and it was agreed that the invalids
should share the same lodgings in the same
locality.
It was about five o'clock in the evening when
the Mortimers arrived at their new abode. Sir
Francis and Lady Digby, with their children,
were at the garden-gate to receive them, and
Vernon almost lifted his cousin from the carriage
into the house. The fire was blazing cheerfully,
the curtains drawn, and a luxurious-looking sofa
near the fire for Louis. Candles were lighted,
— and a piano in the room, with plenty of books
and elegancies, gave it quite a home appear-
ance.
" How snug you are," exclaimed Mrs. Morti-
mer ; " I think I shall always send you as pioneers
when I want lodgings. This makes us feel quite
cheerful at once, does it not, Louis ?"
" Louis looks quite doly, as we say in Yorkshire,"
remarked Vernon, who had by this time placed
his cousin on the sofa, and with Charlotte's assist-
ance was divesting him of his wrappings. " What
Egyptian mummies our fond mothers make of us,
Louis, poor emancipated infidels as we are, as an
old man once said of himself near us. You don't
look quite emaciated, yet, as a body may say; as
DASHWOOD PEIOBT. 103
for me, me void ! tout-a-fait yros. I am afraid I
cannot even clear my throat, I am so well."
Louis was too much exhausted to do more than
-mile, and Vernon continued his attentions with
erful discretion, while Lady Digby pointed out
the convenience of their new house to her sister.
" Look here," she said, opening a door into an
adjoining room, where a lire sent forth a cheerful
flicker ; " here is Louis' room ; he will not have
far to go, and yours opens out of it. Poor dear
fellow ! I thought it would be so convenient for
him. We have two sitting-rooms besides this,
and we will leave him in possession when he
cannot bear our voice ; you shall see our rooms
to-morrow ; you are too tired for further inspec-
tion to-night. I hope Torquay will do all for
Louis that it has done for Vernon; not that I ever
thought there was much the matter with him
when he came home, only a little cough, and now
that seems quite to have left him. Dear boy, he
has such excellent spirits; but his father is angry
very often that he docs not take proper care of
himself, lie wants such constant watchful]]
not v out too long in the afternoon, and will
go into the garden without hi t-coat, and I
m afraid he over-fat igues himself sonietin
ogh Dr. L. says moderate exercise will Dot
hurl him."
•• lie is looking well," said Mrs. Mortimer.
"Yes, he is; we arc gTOWD quite old-fashioned
folks. Dr. L. Bays Vei hould dine early, so
104 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
we all dine at one, and take tea at six. Francis
adopts it quite merrily; he is so wrapped up in
Vernon, I think he would do anything for his
good. "Will our hours suit you? I am so glad
we are together; we shall be so happy."
" I hope so, dear," said Mrs. Mortimer. There
was a tear in her eye as she spoke, and she glanced
fearfully at the half-open door, through the open-
ing of which she saw her dear son languidly resting
against a mass of pillows, while Charlotte and
Vernon were bringing him tea from the larger
table to a smaller one by his sofa. " My boy is
so ill, Beatrice."
Lady Digby soothed and reassured her as much
as she was able, and as soon as possible led her
again into the cheerful parlour, where they found
Louis much refreshed by his tea.
It was some time before Louis recovered from
the effects of his journey ; for many days he seemed
so much the worse for the change from Clifton,
that the worst fears were entertained for him;
even the medical man holding out but little hopes
of his recovery. He did not rise till the middle
of the day, and was then carried into the sitting-
room, where he lay quietly on the sofa, hardly
changing his position, tranquilly watching the
movements of those around him, and occasionally
reading a little. Vernon's care and sympathy was
almost beautiful — active and lively as he was, he
would often sit an hour at a time on a low seat at
his cousin's sofa ; as quiet as the tenderest nurse,
DASHWOOD TRIOUV. LOS
sometimes bathing his head with cau de Cologne,
and at others volunteering to read — an offer which
Louis often gratefully accepted ; for there was
something in the gentle sound of Vernon's musical
voice and perfect intonation, that delighted his
fastidious invalid taste, and soothed his more rest-
I 9 moments. Among other books, Ferrers's gift
was one often chosen; and one day, after coming
to the concluding paragraph a second time, Vernon
remarked, —
"It was a master mind that wrote this, Louis ;
I don't know when I have met with a sermon thai
lias delighted me so much."
" Then you are not tired of reading it so often,
dear Vernon?"
"By no mean-, even were your subjects less
fascinating. It does a poor careless sinner like
myself £ood to be forced to dwell sometimes on
serious topics, Louis, and I will not say but that
your little innocent comments have made me
think."
"Oh, Vernon ! /make you think?" exclaimed
Louis, raising himself from the pillow, with a
slight flush of pleasure in his face. "You are so
far superior to me, I have thought so very often of
your kindness in sitting down reading to me hour
after hour as yon do."
" Conic, COme," said \ enmn. " m\ niothci
II vet allows me tO read an hour at a time."
•• But put the times together," said Louis i
"the benefit is mine, \ emeu."
106 DASHWOOD FRIORY.
" Will you not allow that I may have some in
reading those magnificent chapters in Isaiah and
Ezekiel you chose yesterday, to say nothing of the
other in St. Luke?" asked Vernon. "And I tell
you, Louis, why your remarks do make me think.
They are not cut and dried as though you had been
making a sermon for my edification ; they come I
knoAv from the fulness of your heart, not to teach
me : you speak because you cannot help it. I
should be too proud to be taught, perhaps ; but I
must be arrested sufficiently to wonder where
your simple wisdom comes from."
Louis' eyes glistened, and his heart swelled with
wondering gratitude to Him who maketh any
man's words of power. He did not speak, and
Vernon absently stirred the fire, and then thought-
fully gazing into its depths, continued —
"To return to Watts, Louis, it has a strange
fascination about it. It makes one wish to be
freed from the trammels of our bodies. What an
idea to have the wide expanse of immeasurable
thought and illimitable space spread before you —
a free unfettered being — an enlarged capacity both
of comprehension and enjoyment, and all the
treasures of knowledge and science within the
delighted grasp, and with all, ceaseless untiring
activity, and all — why it seems like the infinity of
the works of nature, too vast for thought — what
a heaven ! "
Louis listened to his cousin with animation in
the beginning of his speech, but his expression
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 107
became very grave as he concluded, and he replied
very seriously, —
■ And yet, dear cousin, I almost, nay I am sure,
we do not think alike on the happiness of heaven."
'As how?" asked Vernon, turning quickly
round : "Did you not say that the idea was very
delightful of being constantly employed, and of
having employment suited to our different dis-
positions and tastes? Did you not say your
childish idea of heaven was what mine was, I
remember; a large room made of clouds, with
angels sitting in rows playing harps for ever and
ever? and I remember, when a child of five years
old, checking a thought which I fancied was
sinful, that I should be very tired of sitting
playing a harp for ever; and I believe, Louis, we
carry to manhood more of our childish preposses-
sions than we are aware of — crude, undigested
notions on many subjects, and on none more than
-in religions subjects. Your favourite, Watts, has
overleaped the limits usually placed before our
inn gi nations, and has given his readers something
tangible on which to fix their idea--; something to
wish for; something to aspire to in the world
to come. Wherein should we differ? ^ e are
reed in liking the same ideas, and I coni
that the name of the old Calvinist prejudiced me
againsl him before ! commenced."
■ 1 must say," replied Louis, " thai I cannol
much difference in your aspirations after
heaven and those of the Mai . \ em
108 DASKWOOD PRIORY.
Vernon opened his month and eyes. " Make
that good, Louis, and perhaps you may gain a
convert."
" You would laugh at the idea of a heaven of
houries, wine-cups, and pleasure-gardens, Vernor /'
answered Louis ; " your intellectual and more
refined nature would make you despise such
inducements, if you could believe them ; but do
you not make a heaven of those things in which
you do delight? Do you not, dear Vernon, make a
god of intellectual enjoyment ? and is it not
because you feel that such a heaven as Watts
describes would be the very essence of ethereal
lofty intelligence, that you esteem it as something
you are capable of loving and understanding?
One thing you said made me think this : you
speak of the works of Nature ; you speak of
knowledge and comprehension; of unfettered
being; but you never spoke of Him, — Nature's
God, — of Him whom it is His people's delight to
serve, whose glory is the theme and object of all
His servants' works and songs. His servants shall
serve Him, and everything there is subservient to
His glory."
" Why you quibble, Louis," said Vernon,
colouring ; " of course, I acknowledge all this when
I agree to your author's sentiments."
" No you do not," said Louis, very decidedly.
The cousins' eyes met fully; Vernon looked
confused, and for a moment rather angry. It was
but for a moment ; for he said presently : —
DASHWOOD I'KIOKV. 10D
' Well then, philosopher, what different aspeet
- heaven wear to you '.-"
•■ Were I in heaven without my God,
'Twould be no joy to me,"
replied Louis, solemnly. " My heaven is the
presence of God, the consequent freedom from
Bin ; the joy of being constantly with my beloved
Saviour; no longer seeing through a glass darkly,
but face to face. Then it is a joy to think of
being always actively employed in His service,
to be always associated with those who esteem
nothing of any moment but the glory of God;
and oh ' how delightful to meet our dear friends,
and to talk with them of all the love that brought
us safely there."
"We have different minds/' said Vernon.
undecidedly.
Louis looked at his cousin anxiously and sadly.
Vernon presently asked, —
•• Do von ever feel afraid of dying?"
"1 may well be asked that question now, dear
Vernon/' he answered calmly. "I am not now
afraid of death; and I do not think since 1 was ;i
child I have feared that Christ would receive me
for 1 1 is own sake; but I have been very sorrowful
at the idea of leaving all and dying 80 J Oling. It
is a beautiful world, and there are many things
i know, Vernon, many hopes of usefulni
and then death looks dark sometimes when our
bodily weakness puts a cloud between US and
Christ. I do not know w hy a Christian should
110 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
shrink from that which will place him in his
Saviour's bosom, but it was so — I was very
unbelieving and sorrowful ; but that is gone now,
quite gone. I think I am willing, and I trust
desirous, to depart and be with Christ ; and 7ny
hope is as fair and unclouded as the blue summei
sky. Thank God ! He has made me feel His will
is best."
Vernon's countenance showed much emotion,
and he did not trust himself to look at Louis as
he replied, " But things are not so bad as that,
Louis ; I did not mean that."
Louis smiled and shook his head.
"Nay, but you must not give way to such
gloomy thoughts."
" They are not gloomy, Vernon : they are the
stay and joy of my heart."
Vernon did not speak, and a few minutes after
their tete-a-tete was disturbed by the entrance of
the rest of the party from their walk.
DASI1W00D PK10B.Y. Ill
CHAPTER VIII.
we have many members in one body, and all members
have not the same office; so are one body in
Christ, and everyone members one of another." — Bom. xii. 4, 5.
Vernon's cough bad entirely disappeared, and
appetite being recovered, Dr. L. pronounced him
sufficiently well to return to Cambridge. A few
days after the conversation detailed in the previous
chapter, Reginald arrived, and this, together with
the knowledge of the pleasure his company •
to Louis, induced Vernon to prolong his stay .
Torquay until the end of the; vacation. Sir Francis
was, however, quite tired out, and Mr. Mortimer
found it necessary to return to Daslnvood; and
no immediate danger appeared to threaten Lon
li«- set off with Sir Francis. Vernon and Reginald
wi usual, constant companions when Lot
■ he alone, and Reginald was autious
be bad often to be di »m.
'I'll . long walks and ride
available nook, and piloted Lady Digby and
Charli ionally to
t be weather was fine, ] lit in a
h chair, and er, hi
ided tu .. length that alio
his in bh<
112 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
more moderate walks, one or the other taking
alternately the station by his chair.
" I declare it is.enough to kill an invalid, to meet
the number of wan, broken-down looking- persons
we see in the chairs here," exclaimed Reginald
one day to his mother, as they strolled along
together some distance behind LomV chair. " I
don't think it affects Louis ; he is really less low-
spirited than usual."
"Dr. L. says his happy state of mind is the
best chance for him," said Mrs. Mortimer, " and I
almost hope he is a little better."
" Dr. L. seems fond of him," said Reginald.
" He is an excellent Christian."
" He is," replied Mrs. Mortimer. " I have
often thought, Reginald, that it is a great mis-
take to imagine that every man who desires to
work the work of God must belong to the ministry
of the Church. I really think a medical man is
often able to do more for the souls of others than
a clergyman. • He has often access where a cler-
gyman cannot enter, and his word is revered so
much in times of sickness. Then, again, you
remember Captain Stoke? His aunt once said
to mc, ' He is so pious, it is a pity he did not go
into the Church, he ought to have been a clergy-
man. He takes such pains with the soldiers of
his regiment; he has taught them a number of
innocent songs and many hymns, which they sing
among themselves; and he visits their families,
assembles them for prayer, and looks after the ob-
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 113
servance of the Sabbath among them/ This v,
Avliilc he was in India. Could he have done so
much had he been a clergyman ? I thought it,
(led no comment — that man's place was plainly
in the army, and not in the ministry of the
Church. But who is that stopping Louis' chair
now'.'"' she added, looking anxiously forward.
"That must not be. Hurry on, Reginald, and
tell them they must move forward."
Reginald ran on as desired, and very soon
reached the chair. A group was formed around
it, of which the cynosure was a stranger, whose
form seemed verv familiar to Reginald from a
distance, and on reaching him, was immediately
recognised as that appertaining to Hamilton.
The meeting was very pleasant for all parties;
and as it turned out that Hamilton had paid a
visit to Torquay expressly to see Louis, he was
invited by ?drs. Mortimer to take up his abode
in their cottage for a few days. His arrival was
a great delight to Louis, and his manner and
expressions were so quiet, and he was so amenable
every hint respecting the invalid, that Mrs
Mortimer was glad to have him in the house.
There were more walks than ever now,
Hamilton's p< of walking were only equalled
by Reginald' Vernon returned from one or
two excursions so •■ <\vm\ beat/ to use Et<
aald'a expression, — that both hia mother and
aunt strongly dissuaded him from undertaking
any more.
i
114 DASHWOOD PRionr.
" Take Charlotte with vou this afternoon." said
Lady Digby, " and then you can return when you
feel tired. Remember, you must not tire her."
"Oh, mamma!" exclaimed Charlotte, "he is
ao disgusted. What immense bores sisters are ! —
are they not, Vernon ? "
" To be sure , and you more than all," an-
swered Vernon, kissing her. " But, come, I won't
object to the incumbrance this afternoon, if
Reginald and Hamilton don't, and I fully appre-
ciate mamma's affection for her son in permitting
you to go under our charge."
Of course, the two gentlemen were only too
proud of Charlotte's company ; and they set off
with many injunctions not to be out late.
" I think a fog is coming on," said Mrs.
Mortimer.
" Remember, dear, the evenings close in soon,"
said Lady Digby, " and Dr. L. says a great deal
about night air. You must not get a cough
again ; your father will think I have been very
careless."
" Remember, you are not too strong yet," said
Dr. L., who entered the garden as Vernon left
it; "three quarters of an hour is enough; the
evening will be foggy."
" Oh, ay ! I remember. Hadn't you better
give me a large blanket, mamma?" he called out.
" What Molly Coddles our fond mothers and these
croaking old doctors make of one, don't they,
Hamilton ?"
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 11."
Hamilton either did not hear, or did not feel
inclined to notice the appeal, and they went
merrily on. Their walk lay along the beach, and
they passed point after point, forgetting in their
amusing talk how far they had already come,
when Charlotte reminded her brother of the
time.
"Yon are right/' said Reginald, suddenly look-
ing round. "It's getting dark; come, Vernon,
we'll all go back together."
" I am not a bit tired. I want to show Lottie
the spring we found the other day, as we are so
far. Why, what walkers we've been! I had no
idea we had come so far."
" Nor any idea how late it is," said Hamilton.
"Every ten minutes will be of consequence now,
Vernon. It will be dark in another hour, and we
have been (me coming here."
" Oh, Vernon ! mamma will be so anxious,"
said Charlotte. "Let us come back."
•• Anxious," said Vernon. " Mamma's obliged
to be careful, because the doctor is; but she is
y much on my side, after all. I am a very
determined person. 1 must go on to the Bpring
HOW. We can walk a little faster and make up
for the loss of tin.
•■ You must go by yourself, then," said Reginald,
stoutly. " We will not; eh, Hamilton?"
.inly not."
Vernon endeavoured to drag Charlotte along,
and then made a feint of sett in g off by himself; but
i 2
116 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
finding that no one stirred, he laughingly ac-
quiesced in their arrangement.
They had not gone very far before Hamilton,
who had been very silent for some minutes, ex-
claimed, " The fog is coming down rapidly. In
another ten minutes we shall not be able to see
our way an inch. Quick; the tide's coming up
very fast. There's no time to lose. Miss Digby,
we have all been very careless."
" Never fear," replied Vernon ; " I always get
out of my scrapes comfortably, and we are alto-
gether."
They hurried on, scarcely speaking. In less
than a quarter of an hour the fog, like a dark
curtain, spread over the sea and land, completely
hiding their way from the pedestrians, and for
some little while they cautiously proceeded, hardly
daring to move a step.
" Let us keep close by the rock," said Hamilton.
" Where is Miss Digby ?"
The curiously muffled sound of Hamilton's
voice sounded unpleasantly on their ears. He
was a little in advance, and on Charlotte's reply,
stepped back, and putting her hand in his arm,
carefully walked in the direction of the cliffs till
he touched them, his voice guiding the others to
follow him. They now proceeded as quickly as
the obscurity would allow, feeling their way till
they reached one of the points they had passed
previously, and were about to double it, when
Reginald cried out, " Here is water. Good
DASHWOOD PEIORT. 117
heavens, Hamilton, we are lost; the tide's up
here."
There was a pause. Charlotte's hand trembled
on Hamilton's arm. "Can you see the light-
house'.-'" she asked. "Are we near the light-
house ? "
" AVc must be very near to see it, in this fog/'
replied Reginald.
" We must try and mount the cliff," said
Vernon. "Or stay, Hamilton; take care of
Charlotte one moment, don't stir till I coim
bark."
"Where are you going?"
" To find our best way," replied Vernon.
It was useless to attempt to stay him : the ut-
most he would do was to consult a moment or two,
and to allow Reginald to share his difficulties;
and it was agreed that Hamilton should remain
with Charlotte, while \ Ynton attempted to clam-
ber round the point to ascertain whether the
water had risen to the inner curve of the ne\t
bay, and Reginald was to climb the cliff, and find
out the best footing above. Charlotte did not
ak a word; but words could not express the
prayerful thoughts that filled both her and
; 11 lit < ni's mind as they stood alone for the nest
few moments, ttwaa no1 long before the welcome
sound of Vernon's voice, and then Reginald's,
hailed them from a little distance above.
"Cheer up. It's a little hit of an easy ascent,
and th »und here. I am eouii.
118 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
down to lead you. There's a house close at hand,
and a light to cheer you."
Another minute, and both the pioneers were
within arm's length of Charlotte and Hamilton,
and after a few seconds' confabulation, Charlotte
was cautiously assisted up the ascent by Hamilton
and her brother. She trembled so violently, that
when they had gone a few yards, Vernon caught
her in his arms, and hurried up the remainder of
the way he had previously explored to the little
house, and set her down breathless at the door.
The way proved very easy, and they were all soon
in the kitchen of the descried refuge, and here, to
their great alarm, Charlotte, when the fear was
over, had a fit of hysterics. It was some little
while before she was sufficiently recovered to be
taken home; but before the light covered cart,
which they were happy enough to procure here,
was ready, Reginald hurried home with a boy
and lantern, to relieve his aunt's and mother's
minds.
At length the whole party were fairly on their
way, the driver holding the horse's head with one,
and a lantern with the other hand. Vernon,
rather exhausted with his exertions, sat back in a
corner, and close by him was Charlotte with her
head leaning on his shoulder, while his arm sup-
ported her. Hamilton was in the opposite corner,
profoundly silent.
As the cart at length drew up in front of the
cottage, and nearly all the inmates of the house
DASIIWOOD PRIORY. 115)
rushed out with candle aud lamp to rejoice over
them, Charlotte raised herself with a deep sigh,
and Hamilton, who had already dismounted,
assisted her carefully down to her mother. Ver-
non followed with rather less alacrity than usual,
and as he emerged from his sheltered corner, and
drew a deep breath of the thick heavy air, he
was painfully sensible of a sharp sensation in his
chest, as if a knife had been drawn across. It
was but momentary, and the next minute he was
cheering his mother with his usual animation, and
drawing a vivid analogy between their situation
and that of Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour, in the
"Antiquary."
But neither his mother nor aunt could look
lightly on it. They only spoke of the mercy of
their escape : they did not upbraid their thought-
aessj but Vernon felt this enough when he
looked on his mother's tearful white face, and
Charlotte's faint languid state.
" You had better take something to-night, my
diar Vernon," said his mother. "I think you
I hitter see Dr. L. ; you look very white and
1."
•• Dr. L. would tell me to go to bed, and I will
prescribe that tor myself."
• Bui he might give you some medicine to pre-
t cold, dear."
■ \mi1 prevent my setting off to-morrow, too,
Nut this time, thank you; I am
nut ill."
120 DASHWOOD PlllORY.
" Let me give you a little sal volatile and pare-
goric, with hot water, at least."
Vernon shrugged his shoulders, took the mix-
ture in silence to his room, and threw it away
without tasting it.
The following day he returned to Cambridge,
and his mother bade him good-bye, thankful
that none of the party was the worse for the
dangerous adventure.
%&P2r<i *L-- C #;>S-
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 121
CHAPTER IX.
" He shall call upon me, and I will answer Him : I will bo
with him in trouble ; I will deliver him and honour him. With
long life will I Batiflfy him, and show him my salvation." —
I \ci. 15, 10.
" The world paaseth away, and the lust thereof; but hu thai
doeth the will of God abideth for ever." — 1 John ii. 17.
Lot is remained at Torquay some months, and
after Vernon's departure gradually improved in
health, contrary to the expectation of all inter-
ested in him; and in April, as a more bracing
climate was recommended for him, his mothei
took him to Tenby, where his recovery was so
rapid that in a few weeks he was allowed to return
home or to school, whenever he pleased. School
was not to be thought of again, and accordingly,
to his great delight, he set out with his mother
for Norfolk, and arrived in Dashwood one line
May morning.
"Thou Bentest a gracious ruin upon Thine in-
hi ritance, and refreshedsl it when it, was wear} ;
so ii is, the former and the latter rain come equally
n Him who has pledged Himself thai He will
rer forsake His people. Sometimes the gracious
rain is ushered in by black threatening clouds;
yet the sun is still behind them, and how dark
122 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
soever they may appear, by-and-by they shall
pass away, and the warm rays shall descend again
to cheer the softened earth. He shall descend
like the tender rain. "On you that fear My
name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with
healing in His wings •" so Louis thought, as the
carriage which had brought them from Norwich
drew near to his native place. Two or three days of
rain had been succeeded by a brilliant sunshine,
and his chastened and spiritual mind traced the
analogy to his own case. He remembered how
dark the cloud had been to him, how he had said
to himself, " Where is God my Maker, who giveth
songs in the night V* But He was still shining
behind the cloud: His inheritance was weary;
there needed a closer drawing to Himself: the
clouds of sickness and fear interposed, but with
them came the gentle rain, and now the chastened
heart could bear the sun of prosperity which
poured on it. How his heart swelled : " My God,
my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise !
Oh, that the life Thou hast spared may be all
Thine own ! Take me, O Lord, for I am not able
to give myself to Thee : keep me as the apple 01
Thine eye; hide me under the shadow of Thy
wing."
My readers have long permitted me, as an old
friend, to appear from time to time from behind
the prompter's curtain and speak a Avord in my
own person. Suffer me now one word. How
many among you feel that God alone has raised
DASHWOOD PRIOEY. 1 '23
you from sickness, — that had He left you, all
lieal aid had been in vain? How many have
lifted up the heart in true gratitude to Him,
ing, "O Lord, I will praise Thee! The
living, the living shall praise Thee ! as I do this
day." The Almighty God has declared, "Whoso
olfereth Me praise honoureth Me." "With sup-
plication and TnAXKsciviNG our requests are to
made known to God." But is it not too often
the case, that He is hardly remembered at all ?
1 1 uman aid, medical advice is sought, while He
who supplies that, is forgotten times without
number. Will ye not fear Him ? King Asa,
when diseased in his feet, sought to the physicians,
and not to the Lord, and what was the sequel ?
II i: DIED.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name.
Louis' father and mother were both in the car-
riage with him, but neither spoke, for they under-
stood his feelings; their own were little different.
As the carriage became visible at the top of the
little elevation they were ascending, the church-
bells shuck up, and ere long along troop of the
villagers met the carriage, and threw flowers into
it, welcoming Louis home: with shouts and reve-
rences. Louis was so taken by surprise, that he
hardly knew what to say or do: he took oil' his hat
and stood up in the re, to acknowledge the
kind salutations, till the carriage entered the
park. We Will not enter inio the part iculai 1 of
the happy home-meeting. It was rcmemhi fed at
124 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
night as such an event should be considered in
every Christian family. Louis missed one dear
face : Reginald was now at Cambridge, and as the
long vacation was yet some time off, he could not
return to welcome him. Two or three months
before, Vernon had reached the summit of his
collegiate desires, being proclaimed senior wrangler,
first gold medallist, and first Smith's prizeman.' 54 '
The great event now talked of was Vernon's next
birthday, when he would be of age : Sir Francis
intended it should be kept with all honours due,
in consideration of his heirship, and the creditable
manner in which he had passed his college career.
The birthday was in September, and all the
Mortimers, Meredith, and the Vernons, beside
numberless other visitors, were invited to share in
the festivities, which were to last beyond the
actual day. Mary and little Fred were full of
the expected pleasure, and eagerly anticipated the
delight of being with all their little cousins at so
busy and joyful a period.
A few days after Louis' return home, his father
called him one morning into his study, and after
a little silence he began, —
" Louis, my boy, I feel I owe a great debt of
gratitude to Him who has restored you to me in
health and strength again. We feel it together ;
my multiplied mercies, who can count them ? "
He added, reverentially, after a pause, "What
* To the sceptical it may be mentioned, that there are two
such instances on record. Might not this have been one?
H\siIWOOD PRIORY. 1 25
-hill I render to the Lord for all His benefit-'.'
1 may, indeed, say, we can render nothing but
the ottering of a thankful heart, and that 11 e
must give. Bat, my boy. I want to bestow some
■ I mi icy in some charitable purpose, as a thank-
offering for this special mercy ; and as you are so
nearly connected in this, I should like to give you
the choice of the object ; therefore choose, my
dear Louis."
Louis was at first so overcome with pleasure,
that he could not find words to thank his father.
At last he replied, in a faltering tone, —
"I have one great wish, father, as you are so
kind to me, if you think it charity. I do ; but
perhaps it will be more than you intend to
■ ■."
" What is it ? Speak out, and do not be afraid
of expense. I think I can guess."
" Poor Ferrers, father. He has talent; he has
been brought up as a gentleman."'
Mr. Mortimer smiled.
" Whai is to be done with him ?"
■• Can you put him to college, papa?"
"' \iid w hat does he purpose doing 1 lien '."" asked
Mr. Mortimer. "1 do not object to it, my dear
-on ; lmt we must carefully consider the utility
of giving him this privilege; and tins sum of
moue\ mu-t not be idle thrown awa\ . What I
want you to feel is that we should be even more
ful stewards of that which we set apart for
the service of God than of thai which we call
126 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
our own. What shall we assist your friend in
doing ? "
" Why, father, I hardly know ; he wants an
university education. He has talents, and I
think would do well, — perhaps fit himself for a
tutor. You know he might take pupils, and
would succeed much better if he had been at
Oxford or Cambridge."
"Well, I will write and make inquiries about
him. Do you think Dr. Wilkinson would take
the trouble to find out his views for me ? "
" I am sure he will, father," said Louis, joy-
fully.
In a few days Mr. Mortimer had instructed his
lawyer to write to Dr. Wilkinson and obtain
all necessary particulars respecting Ferrers : Mr.
Mortimer's name was not to be mentioned ; and
in little more than a week a full and circum-
stantial account through him from Dr. Wilkin-
son arrived, which satisfied Mr. Mortimer suffi-
ciently for him to summon Louis to another
cabinet council. It was agreed that it would
neither be wisdom nor kindness to make too
large an allowance; consequently, 500/. was placed
in Mr. T 's hands, and he was instructed
to allow Ferrers 120/. per annum, the remainder
to be given to him on leaving college, or to be
spent in necessary books. The college was also
chosen for him ; and when all was arranged,
Mr. T wrote to offer this to Ferrers, who,
we need hardly say, accepted it joyfully and
DAsiiwooi) riuoRY. 127
gratefully; and easily persuading Ins master to
give up his indentures, was placed by the same
. urinous friend with Dr. "Wilkinson till the
Michaelmas term. I need not say how happy
our hero was ; he could hardly refrain from
writing to congratulate Ferrers before receiving
formal notification of it from him, and then had
to weigh his words well in his answer, to previ
the secret from appearing in the joy of his heart.
Lnnis' own studies were now very easy. Mr.
•rtimer was not ambitious for any of his chil-
dren, and only desiri d that Louis should be suiii-
ciently prepared for the ministry of the Church
for which he was designed. He and Seville, who
was intended for the same sacred office, studied
together ; but Neville was far more studious than
Louis, and, though educated at home, was quite
his equal.
All the Mortimers and Digbys paid a visit
to Cambridge to witness the ceremony of the
bestowal of Vernon's gold medal. It was a grand
scene; and as the alight delicate-looking young
man passed in review before the crowded hop
every mouth was full of his praises; and man\
comments among the. ladies were pa- ed on his
interesting appearance ; while others, nearer to
him, who could notice with a critical eve the
hectic spot and fire of his lust : lid
too truly he was worn out. His strength Wl
unequal to the ordeal imposed on his excitable
frame. He did not know it liim-i If. Win
128 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
shouts seemed to pull down the immense senate-
house, how proudly his heart beat. Bright
visions of future fame and greatness rose before
him, and all were again absorbed in the present
delight of that proud feeling of being for that
year at the head of the youth of Great Britain ;
and yet, how little was his fame known beyond
the walls of Cambridge !
He left the house, and hastening to the inn where
his mother was, threw himself into her arms.
" Mother, dear mother ! the proudest thought
I had was, that you were the happiest mother
there ; and the happiest I had was, that / had
made you so."
Lady Digby kissed his wide forehead amid her
tears.
"God bless you, my boy ! — God bless you !
and make you a blessing to your parents and
country."
" Father ! " he said, as he met his father's open
hand and glistening eyes.
Nothing more was said between father and
son ; but they understood each other.
Presently Vernon tore off his cap and gown,
and flung them to the other end of the room.
"Now, mother, let me sit on this stool, and
lean my head on your knee, as I used when I was
a little bov."
He suited the action to the word, and remained
long in silence, with his mother's hand resting
on his beautiful head, only removed from apparent
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 129
sleep by the rapid twinkle of his eye from under-
neath the nearly closed eyelid. It was enough
Sir Francis to sit and look at him; lie
had not even power to commend his example to
Frank, even supposing Frank had been in the
a\ ay ; but that gentleman, being rather afraid of
a lecture on account of considerable and oft-
repeated delinquencies, had taken himself out of
the way with some of his chosen associates.
1 1 is surprising bow little some people under-
stand the symptoms of ill-health. Vernon was
lively, and had a brilliant colour ; and at times,
when pale and delicate, it was simply attributed
to over-fatigue ; and, after spending a week or
two at home, a cruise on the Mediterranean was
again resorted to, to set him up and give him
tone ; but he was past that.
130 DASHWOOD PRIORY,
CHAPTER X.
" Ah, James,
But he was sadly changed, when he came down
To keep his birth-day.
It struck a damp
On all our merriment."
Southey's Eclogues.
September was fast approaching, and great were
the preparations at Castle Digby for the coming of
age of the heir. Vernon wrote home frequently,
and when he considered it necessary to mention
his health, always said, " I am very well.'" His
birthday took place at the end of the month,
and it was arranged that he should benefit by the
sea breezes as long as possible ; consequently he
was not expected home much before the day.
Duly at the appointed time Mr. Mortimer and his
family set off, and duly they arrived at the beau-
tiful seat of Sir Francis Digby. Mary and Fred
were quartered with the large party of little ones,
of whom Lady Digby's younger children, ranging
from thirteen to three years old, formed the
greater share. Nothing was thought of, from
eldest to youngest, but pic-nics, parties of pleasure,
and all kinds of schemes for passing away the
time as pleasantly as possible. Many of Vernon's
DASIIWOOD PKIOKV. 131
friends were invited ; among whom were Meredith
and Hamilton. The latter was previously i ogaged,
but Meredith, who had been passing part of his
vacation with Reginald and Louis, arrived with
them. Sir George Vernon and family arrived the
evening of the same day with the Mortimers, and
nearly all the invited visitors were accommodated
in the large castle before the arrival of the hero.
Rooms that had not been used for years, haunted
rooms, dilapidated rooms, light closets, and dimly-
lighted apartments, were all in requisition. Re-
pairs and cleansing had been going on for a month
or two previous to the time, to make ready for
the large influx, and every bed in the two villa
inns was engaged for the night of the twenty-third.
Sir George was disappointed at not finding his
favourite grandson at home to meet him ; and to
indemnify himself for this disappointment, he
solaced himself by dwelling on his perfections
to several gentlemen with his accustomary decision
and dogmatism, as he walked up and down tin-
long drawing-room, with his hands behind him.
•' lli'll be :i great man, sir, one of these d
IIis father will of COOrse u r < t him into Parliament.
lie. is one of those brilliant intellects, sir, that
bear everything before them. It always was so;
from a child he could do anything he chtt
Why I remember — let me see- fifteen yean a
— when his mother broughl him toHeronhnrst I
him a Latin lesson, the first Latin lesson beevei
had, ami he took it away laughing; when 1 t;
K 2
132 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
to explain it to him, he said saucily, ' Oh, grand-
papa, I know ! ' and then he went and sat on the
window seat, and kicked his legs about and killed
flies. I said to him, ' You are not learning that,
Vernon.' ' Because I know it, grandpa,' he said,
sharply ; and sure enough he did, and said it as
Avell as you or I, though, to my certain know-
ledge, he had hardly looked at it."
" Ay, indeed ! " said the gentleman. " The
most extraordinary part is, that he has grown up
according to his early promise. A precocious
child seldom becomes a remarkable man ; large
things are of slow growth/'
" He was never forced, sir ; he was never forced ;
and he had good spirits, and liked boys' sports.
The danger is, sir, in forcing the intellect. He
has been judiciously reared, sir; and the conse-
quence is, his constitution is now established, and
he is likely to be a useful and honourable mem-
ber of society. I am persuaded all depends upon
education. People often talk of the will of God,
when they are to blame themselves. If they took
proper care, adverse things would not happen, in
the majority of cases."
Sir George's state of happiness was exceedingly
great ; he went about the room in the most affable
state of mind, to hear Vernon's praises from the
many mouths, and was even gracious to Frank
and Louis.
The following day Vernon arrived, between
lunch and dinner. Sir George was in the morning
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 133
room with some members of the family, who, as
well as himself, had waited at home to receive
him. on the chance of hi> arrival. As the carriage
stopped, a troop of little ones, who had caught
sight of the approach, rushed out hatless and
Im anetless to greet him. He got out quickly
amongst them, and several minutes were occupied
in the vociferous welcomes and mutual embraces.
Now. little noisy ones," he exclaimed, as soon
;.- he could disengage himself; " no announce-
ment, if you please; and come quietly up, if you
come at all."
He strode across the wide hall into the well-
known loom. Here his welcome was scarcely less
noi<y than that previous ; every one was so de-
lighted to Bee him again, and nearly all compli-
mented him on his improved appearance. His
mother looked with the tenderest fondness on his
slight graceful form and brilliant expression, now
lighted up with animation and happiness; and in
truth it was a beautiful face when examined,
though few on a ^1 JLrlit acquaintance would pro-
nounce him handsome.
■ Does he not look well?" said Lady Diebv, as
she resigned the hand she held to her father.
Sir George did not reply. He had taken his
adton's hand and welcomed him heartily, but
a change came over his countenance, which a
i ii observer would have remarked as one he
desired to conceal. I le held the hand wry loudly,
d at (he young man kindly and seriously,
134 DASKW00D PRIORY.
but with a half- affrighted and inquiring expression.
Vernon was apparently too much occupied to
notice his grandfather's unusual manner. He
had so many questions to answer, and so much to
hear before it was time to dress, and he retired
soon, in order to escape the return of the rest of
the company before dinner.
Reginald, Louis, and the young people fol-
lowed his example very shortly, Lady Digby, her
sister and brother, remaining a little longer.
They sat near a window talking of Vernon, of his
improved looks, his high spirits, his affectionate
disposition. It was a theme on which Lady Digby
loved to enlarge, and her companions were quite
ready to indulge her by listening and agreeing.
Sir George continued walking up and down the
room with his hands behind him. Suddenly he
stopped before them, and said —
" Vernon look well, Lady Digby ? are you blind?"
" How ! what do you mean ? You alarm me."
" Some one must be alarmed before long," he
replied, gravely. " I can't tell what you have
been thinking of. God help you, Beatrice ; you
have been very blind."
Lady Digby turned deadly pale. " My dear
father ! what — what do you mean ? "
" That Vernon is ill— very ill— fearfully ill,"
repeated Sir George, emphatically.
Lady Digby and Mrs. Mortimer looked at one
another with blanched lips, and then at Sir George,
wonderingly.
DASIIWOOD PKIORY. 135
"Ay, I'm not out of my mind." said the old
gentleman. " I know what I am saying. I know
it too well. I am sorrv to startle you : but vou
must be awakened. He must be nursed."
" What, father, with that lovely colour, looking
so remarkablv well — looking so handsome ? " said
Lady Digby, gasping between each word.
" It is even so," replied Sir George, sadly.
m Beatrice, I'd — Fd have given — I'd have — I'd
have given — I'd give all I possess to save him;
but it is too late, I know.''
"Father!" exclaimed Lady Digby, bursting
into tears, " do not talk so. It is cruel to talk in
this way ! — indeed, it is cruel."
" You are too desponding, sir," said Mrs. Mor-
timer, in a tone of assumed cheerfulness.
Sir George never acknowledged himself in the
wrong, so he said nothing, but stood looking
gloomily and sorrowfully at the sisters. Mr. Ver-
non roused himself and attempted to cheer his
sister's spirits, by hinting that his father was
jather apt to take fright; that he thought Vernon
■ as looking better than when he saw him last ;
and so poor Lady Digby went to dress with a
heavy heart, but determined to hope and deter-
mined to have niedieal adviee at once. She did not
tell Sir Francis; she could not bear to alarm him at
such a time. After her departure Sir ( foorgQ con-
tinned to pace tip and down the room in a state of
greal agitation, murmuring to himself at intervals,
"Colour! ura! — what madness aol to have
13G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
looked to him before ! Colour — it's a fever-colour !
Where could they be, not to see his white hands ?"
and then he shook his head mournfully, his eyes
filled with tears, and he took a few turns in
silence. " Poor fellow ! poor boy ! couldn't they
see his breath ? um ! It was not all eagerness —
no stairs — um ! my dear boy /" — he dashed the
back of his hand across his eyes.
"Father, you are too much alarmed," said
Mr. Vernon, who had been a silent spectator.
" You have alarmed yourself unnecessarily."
"God grant it!" he replied. "Clarence, I
have lost two sons that way — you remember one
— and I know every step."
" I see he is not the thing," said Mr. Vernon ;
"but I cannot see cause for so much despondency.
He was excited j remember how excitable he is ;
rest and nursing will restore him yet."
" Well, well," said poor Sir George, " he has a
good constitution, I've always said, and he got
over that terrible illness at Dashwood ; perhaps —
but they've let it go on too long; — madness,
madness ! — Lady Digby is always so easy ; Emily
would have taken better care of him."
He strode hastily out of the room.
Vernon appeared in the drawing-room only just
before dinner, and thereby, for a little while,
spared himself the weariness of answering a
number of common-place inquiries. He singled
out a favourite lady, and devoted himself very
assiduouslv to her entertainment on the wav to
DASHWOOD PKIOllY. 137
the dining-room, and charmed every one at table
by the brilliancy of his conversation. His father
-was so happy, and even Sir George's fears were,
for the time, lessened by the sprightly nonchalance
of his gifted grandson ; but neither he nor Lady
Uigby forgot to notice, amid all the excitement
and cares of the dinner, that the contents of
his plate were sent away every course, almost
untouched. The gentlemen did not remain long
at the table, and Vernon and his cousins were the
first of the party who entered the drawing-room.
Their attentions were so immediately and con-
stantly required, that the evening nearly passed
away before Lady Digby had an opportunity of
speaking to her son; but her anxious care being
i.ow quite aroused, she watched him as constantly
as her duties allowed, and was considerably
relieved by his unwearied animation and high
spirit. " I cannot think what my father means,''
she said to herself; " I never saw him looking so
well, dear fellow ! "
When the festivities of the evening were over,
Vernon eamcto his mother in her boudoir to wish
her good night. She looked anxiously at him as
she held his burning hand.
"Good night, mater carUHma .'" he .said, in
. tone of grave playfulness, ;ilin<>si answering
her steady gaze by one ;is full of meaning from
hia large liquid i yes.
\ ou are very hnt, my darling.
•■ How should 1 he otherwise, mamma? It's a
138 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
liot night, and hot rooms, and dancing— nothing
very "wonderful."
" You did not dance very much, my dear : I
thought you "were dancing rather languidly."
"Who dances otherwise in a quadrille, mater?"
he replied. " I've given up waltzes and polkas —
they're too much trouble."
"You did not take much dinner after your
journey, my love."
" Must I explain how I tasted of everything,
and that the abundance of tastes made an excel-
lent dinner? Y r ou have been "watching me in a
most maternal manner," he answered, looking at
her again as if his soul were in his eves. " Now,
what next ? "
His mother still looked intently at him.
" Is your cough quite gone ? "
" A merveille" he replied carelessly.
" How long has it been gone ?"
"It seemed to go lately almost suddenly,"
replied her son gravely, while a sudden expression,
as of pain, passed over his face.
" What is the matter, dear ?"
" Nothing ; — the bare recollection of what that
cough used to be after I left you," he said with a
little laugh.
The laugh produced a slight hollow cough,
two or three times repeated, and his mother
remarked, —
" It is much better, but not well ; take care of
yourself, dear."
DASHWOOD riUOKY. 139
"I'll promise you that," he answered gaily,
as lie turned to his father, who now entered
the room.
"Good night, father: it is very late or very
early."
" Good night, Vernon," said his father.
" Mamma, he looks well, doesn't he ? The sea
agrees with him. I should be glad to see him a
little stouter, though. God bless you, my boy !
my proud, my beautiful!" he added, as Vernon
left the room.
Lady Digby sighed deeply, but softly; she
a not at ease, though her mind "was in some
measure relieved. She did not know how Vernon
had striven against lassitude that evening to appear
11 in her eyes, and how, now the spur was
removed, he sank exhausted on his bed, where he
lay full half an hour before his valet could prevail
on hirn to undress. This valet was a voting
Frenchman lie had brought home with him, and
whom he chose to have in constant attendance
now, in opposition to his general habits; for till
lately he bad always expressed his abhorrence
of valets in no measured terms, and gloried in
being independent. He slept but lightly, con-
stantly tossing about, and disturbed by tl.e cough
which bad excited BO little alarm in his mother.
140 dashwood rnioRY.
CHAPTER XI.
" How dreadful must thy summons be, O Death !
To him that is at ease in Lis possessions :
Who, counting on long years of pleasure here,
Is quite unfurnished for that world to come.
In that dread moment, how the frantic soul
Eaves round the walls of her clay tenement:
Huns to each avenue, and shrieks for help ;
But shrieks in vain. How wistfully she looks
On all she's leaving, now no longer hers." — Blair.
" Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ;
while the evil days come not." — Eccles. xii. 1.
Vernon arose the next morning unrcfreshed, and
weary from his troubled feverish sleep, and during
his toilet his couirh was unusually troublesome.
" Comment, Basire, ma toux revient ; donnez-
moi la boutcille, et doucement, nc me derangerez
pas."
" Monsieur sc fatigue trop," replied the man,
as he measured a dose of the cough mixture, with
a considerable tenderness of manner.
" Vous avez raison, Basire, apres demain je me
delasserai — aujourd'hui e'est impossible, et demain
e'est encore plus impossible. Ma fete, vous savez,
Basire. Pas un mot dc cctte toux — comprcnez-
vous r
DASHWOOD PKIOKY. 1 11
Basire shrugged his shoulders, and signified his
comprehension in an undecided manner, as Vernon
languidly left the room.
If Lady Digby had congratulated herself on
liis good looks the preceding evening, she could
do so no longer, as his wan face and sunken eyes
met her gaze at breakfast. He was too ill to
make any effort to appear lively; all he could
assume was a cheerful manner.
Sir George was fidgety, and visibly uneasy, and
when breakfast was over, he summoned Vernon
and his father to a council in another room,
inning by minutely inquiring into Vernon's
ailments. He could get but little, however, out
of his grandson.
Vernon laughed at the idea of being ill. " He
was excited at returning home; had had a bad
night — had caught a little cold — there was nothing
the matter."
■ Nothing the matter, with that cough?" re-
peated Sir George.
' A mere trifle, sir/' replied Vernon, with so
much indifference in his manner, that his grand-
father grew angry.
• Vim may call it what you please, sir, but it
will kill you if you won't take proper care of
it. Sir Francis, I should insist upon his Beeing
Dr. Macey. You hear how he lias been coughing
this morning; you see how he look^. No com-
menl is needed, and words will be wasted in
argument/ 4
142 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" How I have been coughing ! I haven't been
coughing/' replied Vernon.
" I have done, sir/' said Sir George, majesti-
cally. " Were you my son, I should order you out
of the room ; as you are not, I shall go myself."
"Grandfather, grandfather, forgive me/' ex-
claimed Vernon, hastily placing himself between
Sir George and the door. " I am unworthy of
your solicitude. I am really sorry. I will go out
if you will not stay in the room."
But Sir George put him aside and persisted in
retreating, leaving Vernon alone with his parents.
He was exceedingly sorry, and went after his
grandfather, using all his eloquence to induce him
to return, but in vain, and he returned to his father.
Sir Francis quietly but decidedly expressed his
intention of summoning Dr. Macey that day, and
in the same manner reproved Vernon for his petu-
lance concerning their anxietv.
" That you are not the thing is plain," he said,
" or you would think it unworthy to refuse so
small a request. I am going to S this morn-
ing, and will send the Doctor myself; and, Vernon,
I shall be most seriously displeased if you do not
see him. I wish vou had come home before. It
would have been better to postpone the merry-
making till you were quite strong." As Sir
Francis went out, Vernon threw himself on a sofa
in an agony of vexation.
" I will go out ; I won't sec Dr. Macey. Bored
to death with doctors ! doctors, is there to be uo
)' 143
The Children :ed to Vernon.
DAS II WOOD PHIORY. 143
end of doctors ! I had enough of them last year ;
can't I c:itch a slight cold without doctors' medi-
cines to cure me ! "
Lady Digby attempted to soothe him, and had
partially succeeded, when several of the little girls
entered in their birthday dresses of white worked
muslin, with broad pink sashes. They were a
pretty little group. Mary Mortimer and Bessie
Vernon, dressed exactly like their cousins, were
in the advance with Mary Digby, who wai about
their age, and Fanny, Kosalic, and little baby
Laura, brought up the rear.
lamma, we've come to show you our new
frocks," cried Rosalie. " Vernon, we've got pink,
your favourite colour ; and, mamma, all the boys'
dresses have come home, and Charlotte's and
Louisa's ball dresses. Oh, they are so beautiful !
Will vou come and look at them ? Vernon, do
come and look at them."
" They are pink crape, with silver flowers on
them, Vernon," said Fanny. " Do come into the
school-room ; they arc all there, and Frank, and
Reginald, and Louis, and Mr. Meredith, are all
there, too."
Vernon did not attempt to resist their persua-
sions. He lifted the baby on his shoulder, to the
great detriment of her new dress, and marched
along to the school-room, where the Dew dj
lay in their glittering beauty. Vernon WSB called
upon to admire everything, in consequence of all
being provided to do him honour, lie masted
1 I 1 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
upon his two eldest sisters arraying themselves in
their new robes, and a merry half-hour was spent
in descanting on the alterations and additions
required from the dress-maker, who had come from
S with them. May we be allowed to use the
word "spent" instead of "wasted," in connection
with the half-hour above mentioned, for surely on
such an occasion half an hour's sympathy with a
young party's pleasure was not mis-spent time ?
" And now do get up, you lazy fellow, and come
out," exclaimed Reginald, when the survey was
presumed to be finished. As he spoke he suited
the action to his words, by lifting little Laura
high in the air, from the end of the sofa on which
Vernon was now lying full length, and jumping
her on the floor ; he then disengaged Rosalie from
his feet, and commenced an attack on Vernon, by
turning the couch on its side, and rolling his
cousin on the floor. " Get up and come out ! "
" He's not a lazy fellow," cried little Rosalie,
running up to help him. " He's a dear good,
kind bov."
" Boy indeed ! " exclaimed Vernon, as he re-
covered his legs slowly, playfully seizing his sister
by her arms. " How dare you call me a boy ? "
" Well, vou won't be a man till to-morrow, vou
know ; Frank said so."
" That's a horrid cram of Frank's," cried Ver-
non. " He's always talking some absurd nonsense,
I wonder you ever believe him ; he knows nothing
at all about it."
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 1 15
" You are really a man, arc vou not? "
• Well, to ease your anxious mind, suppose you
call me an individual for the next few hours; only
niter to-morrow, let me hear you at your peril
call your eldest brother a hoy again. High !
What, here'- Lady Laura coming for more romps.
1 tied Lady Laura — can't make rav head a foot-
stool any more. My arms have not recovered
their temporary usage as a crane for hoisting light
weights, to Bay nothing of being almost smothered
just now by a very bustling rnuslin frock, and
having my eyes nearly put out with the corner ot
a sash. Xo ; no more of that, an't please your
ladyship — come Reginald, out of the way, if we
must go ; come."
" Why, you are panting as if you had been
jumping over a five-barred gate," said Reginald,
his cousin seized his arm. They made their
way out with some difficulty, and it was not till
Lady Digby had relieved him by a few expostula-
tory words, that the children allowed them free
'And now, where arc we to go?' asked
\ i rnon
■ I have not Been anything yet," said Reginald ;
•• I wanl to walk round the home-park, and see
Mime of your improvements} and there is that
beautiful tower your father has been building, in
honour of you. He wanted to show me the vie*
from it ; hut I declined, as 1 wished to B6e i1
\\ ith vou."
J.
146 DASHWOOD PRIOllY.
" Come, then, most devoted and fraternal
cousin, I shall be happy to act cicerone, if my
powers of leg do not fail me."
" Powers of leg ! You priuce of laziness ! you
have grown very weak in your understanding
lately. We'll catch a deer, and place you thereon,
if you are tired. I see you want me to get you
into good habits; you have been with that lazy
fellow St. John till you have forgotten that any-
body ever does anything ; with your monsieur. I
am really afraid of you, Yemon."
" So am I" replied Vernon, coolly. " I am
very much afraid of myself. It is really so
amazingly comfortable to have things done for
us, that I wish a patent walking-machine was
invented ; one's legs really are not fit for long
walks."
" Shall I send for monsieur to carry you, dear
boy?"
" Thank you," replied Vernon, nonchalantly ;
" it would be very comfortable, only he would let
me fall to a certainty. Perhaps, if I am too tired
to proceed, you and Meredith, as the strongest of
the party, will carry me queen's-chair fashion. Is
that a bargain before we start, Meredith ? "
Meredith, who with Prank and Louis had
joined them, laughingly acquiesced.
" I do not know what the rest of the party will
think of us," said Vernon ; " but they really must
take care of themselves to-day as yesterday with-
out me."
DASHWOOO PRIOKV. I ! 7
"Arthur and Charles are very devoted," said
Frank, "and I shall return soon: so yon ma\
make yourself easy on that score."
" I shall be very attentive to-morrow, to make
up," said Vernon.
The castle, a large imposing pile of building,
originally built in the time of Edward the Third,
but considerably altered and modified by succeed-
ing generations, stood a little distance from the
summit of one of a range of beautiful hill-,
which rose around it, nearly covered with trees.
A winding road, now and then discernible among
the trees, led to it from the park, and immedi-
ately along the front of the building was a broad
marble terrace, from which a noble flight of steps
led to the smooth green ascent below. A wide
expanse of rich park-land, and meadow upou
meadow, inter sp e rs ed with cottages and houses of
more magnificent pretensions, lay before you as
yon stood on the terrace, and on one side a con-
siderable parish church, of no remarkable archi-
tectural beauty ; near which was the parsonage -
honac and the " Digby Arms," the principal inn
of the place, — for Combe Digby, though only a
hamlet in name, was of considerable extent, and
boasted a High-street of its own. The time of
the year and the beantv of the weather were all
BTonrable to the exhibition of the beauties of the
place.
Vernon led the way silently with Reginald
down the hil! to a beantii'nl dell, which was laid
i •>
1 18 DASHWOOD PlUOllY.
out with much tasteful regard to its uneven
propensities. They passed clump after clump of
beautiful oaks and spreading beeches, whose
colour was slightly changed bv the breath of
autumn. Startled deer occasionally tied from
their approach to the shelter of distant trees,
and now and then, as they brushed through the
more woody entanglement of shrubs and bushes
which guarded the approach to the dell, they
roused a hare, or a covey of partridges flew into
the air. Reginald thought he had humoured his
cousin's silent fancy long enough, and, in common
with Frank and Meredith, burst into a verv
sportsman-like ejaculation on the latter appari-
tion.
"What a pity we have no guns," exclaimed
Meredith.
" We are not in a sportive mood just now,"
said Vernon, quietly ; " you had better make a
morning of it after to-morrow. My father's pre-
serves are very good, only 1 must confess I have
verv little fancy for shooting : I never could learn
how to hold a gun properly, and have always a
wholesome dread of shooting myself."
" What a shame, with all this abundance ! ,J
said Reginald.
" Chacun a son gout" replied Vernon, in the
same languid tone : " there's all the more for my
friends, and you are welcome to come and blaze
away as much and as often as you like ; and fur-
ther, if it will afford you any satisfaction, I will
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 1 !'.»
give you the inexpressible pleasure of my com-
pany oil such occasion. Quant a moi" — he mur-
mured, in conclusion, as lie glanced at the peep
of blue sky the trees permitted to appear.
" How very beautiful this is, Vernon," re-
marked Louis.
•• I thought it would please you," said Ycrnon ;
"it was always a favourite spot of mine. "When
I was sulky, 1 came and sulked here; when I
\\av in a dramatic humour, I played Robinson
Crusoe here; and many is the time in the vaca-
tions Pve pretended to be very studious in that
This is my willow, Louis."
Louis laughed.
•• It is nice," he said, "to have a summer-
parlour of our own, is it not, Vernon ? ' :
•• For us sentimental ones it i-." rejoined
\ ernon.
" \ on sentimental!" exclaimed Reginald; "non
sense; you and I row in the same boat, Vernon.
You like the open air, and walking, and boating,
and all those sort of things; at least you did,
only really you've become so abominablv lazy.
I don't know what else may have come to
you."
\ ernon smiled, and, making no reply 3 Beemed
very well content to remain under any imputation
his cousin pleased.
Kut. upon my word, this is B beautiful
place; we can't -how \iiu anything like it si
I >ashwood."
150 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
" Your grounds are so much more extensive
than ours/' said Louis.
" Oh ! there's no scenery at Dashwood/' said
Reginald; "it's only a pretty comfortable place."
" It is beautiful/' said Vernon, almost ab-
sently ; " I am much attached to it ; and yet I
do not think it is entirely the scenery that charms
me. We are all creatures of association, Regi-
nald. This dell abounds with the silver birch;
and I never see a birch anywhere from home
that it does not call forth a very pleasant, and yet
a craving feeling, — a kind of craving for that past
time when so little charmed me. I am not quite-
past that yet," he added ; " but my desires are
getting larger, and I am afraid I am growing
more censorious and less easily satisfied ; it is the
natural consequence of greater experience ; but I
hope I shall never get into that miserable state of
being wearied of everything."
" Never fear," said Reginald ; " you of all
others are likely to taste largely of the pleasures
of life : really, Vernon, just think — "
" Don't tell him to think," said Meredith;
" don't you see he is in a brown study, apropos
of the pleasures of life. I sometimes think that
happiness does not always go with the abundance
of life's pleasures."
" That is true, Meredith," rejoined Louis ;
"the happiest persons are often those who have
fewest of this life's pleasures."
"I often think that my cup of life is very full
DASXWOOB nuoiiv. 151
of most good tilings/' said Vernon, thoughtfully.
" My life is almost too little interrupted by trifles;
I m ver wish for a thing but I get it."
Too happy!" said Meredith. "You are
growing more humble than I used to think you."
"Or more superstitious," said Vernon, in the
same quiet tone : " ' They whom the gods love die
young;' aud I believe it, Meredith. An old nurse
of mine once said, speaking of her childhood, ' It
was so happy, Master Digby, I thought I must
really be going to die young/"
" But she lived to be old, didn't she?" asked
Meredith ; " so there goes vour theorv at once."
A hearty laugh was raised at Vernon's expense.
He joined in it himself, saying, as it died away, —
•• Ah well, so she did; I did not sec the fallacy
of my illustration."
"You have a fit of the vapours, I am afraid,"
I Reginald ; " walk a little faster, and shake it
out of you."
■• Not up-hill/' said Vernon cheerfully, resisting
hi- l'b energetic pulls j " I have not recovered
my journey."
They were now mounting one of the hills by
the winding path that ran round the: back of
tin- bo vcial tixnea Vernon Mopped, and the
Little hollow cough was painfully perceptible even
to Reginald.
'■ \\ A, Vernon, you are not well/' he said, as
they -topped near the brow (.1* the hill, when a
feM more would bare placed them at the top.
152 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" I must liave takeu cold yesterday ; my cough
has returned a little to-dav, but there is not much
the matter/' he replied, in a low exhausted tone ;
and after resting a few minutes, he led them to
the entrance of the " Vernon Tower/' which was.
completed in honour of his coming of age. A
cart and various tools about, showed that the task
of clearing the rubbish and beautifying the envi-
rons was in progress. The workmen were gone
to their dinner, and Vernon and his companions
sat down on one of the stone seats placed in the
doorway to look at the glorious prospect.
"The prospect is much finer from the top/'
said Louis. " There is a staircase inside ; let us
go up."
"Lunch must be ready/' said Frank. "It is
half-past one."
"'Time was made for slaves/" said Reginald;
" come, Vernon, I have not seen it."
The ascent inside the tower, which was very
lofty, was slow and fatiguing ; but when the
summit was gained, the magnificent panoramic
view well repaid the toil, — rich pasture-land,
waving corn-fields, thick plantations of trees,
houses at intervals, showing a thickly-populated
country. The young men stood side by side in
silence : Vernon with a swelling heart, and full
glistening eyes.
" ' I am monarch of all I survey,' "
said Reginald playfully, turning to Vernon. " Do
DASHWOOD PRIOBY. 1"' ; >
you not feel proud that, this fair land belonged to
your fathers before you, Vernon?"
\ ( rnon smiled, and looked with earnest, lustrous
• yes on all around him. But his proud expression
laded gradually into one both mournful and
serious. He turned from the others, seemingly
wrapped in his own meditations.
"The lot has fallen to you in a fair ground,
Vernon," said Louis, whose heart was full, but
with diffi rent emotions.
" Yea. I have a goodly heritage," replied
\ ( rnon, with a sigh.
•' 1 hope you say that in its largest sense/' said
Louis, gently.
Vernon was silent for a moment; he thru
replied, still looking intently on the distant hills, —
"David used it of his inheritance."
"But, surely," added Louis, "'David looked
beyond his kingdom ; for did he not thank Ciod
for that when he said, ' What am I, and what is
my father's house, that Thou hast brought me
hitherto? 3 he also said, 'The Loud is the portion
of mine inheritance, and my cup: Thou main-
tained my lot.' Things pass away so quickly on
earth, we need some continuing city, do we not;
where we may place our treasures ? ,J
\n expression of the most intense sadness
settled on Vernon's countenance as Louis Bpoke,
d he replied, still without looking at him, —
•■ Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas I The
preacher \\a- a wise man; Louis. 'There is an
154 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
evil under the sun, and it is common among men ;
a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth,
and honour, so that he wanteth nothing;'
' wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he
desireth,' he repeated, with bitter emphasis;
' yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof/
c As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even
to me, and why was I then more wise ? For there
is no remembrance of the wise more than of the
fool for ever. And how dieth the wise man ?
even as the rooL. I looked on the works that
my hands had wrought, and on the labour I had
laboured to do, and behold all was vanity and
vexation, and no profit under the sun.' "
Vernon uttered these words rapidly, and there
was a bitterness and earnestness in his manner
that alarmed and startled Louis ; who replied, —
" But the wisdom spoken of there is the
' wisdom of the world, that is foolishness with
God/ Vernon. "The remembrance of the just
is blessed :' ' Say ye to the righteous, it shall be
well with him !'"
" What are you two talking of so earnestly
there?" exclaimed Reginald, who had been
engaged in a merry discussion with Frank and
Meredith at the other side. How grave you are !
Why, Louis, you look quite frightened."
" As for Vernon, he's in the dumps this morn-
ing," said Frank : " the ghosts of his forefathers
are haunting him. Never mind, Vernon, don't
be heroic ; never mind the ancestry. I mean to
DASHWOOB PRIORY. 155
throw mine overboard, :uul be sufficient for my-
-I'll'. AY hen I write my personal recollections, I
shall commence, ' I was the son of my father, and
that was honour enough for me and for him f and
now I'm hungry, and I dare say the company will
■want me. Meredith, come along : you saw all,
and had all your poetry and sentiments called
forth yesterday. Come, Louis, come and have
some touch : we'll leave the son and heir in the
clouds, as he's inclined to be so mysterious."
Lonis followed Frank and Meredith down the
staircase; and Vernon, rousing himself, began to
point out some places of note to Reginald. The
others had not left them many minutes, when
the workmen returned. They caught sight of the
gentlemen before tliev reached the tower, and
came running up the hill, waving their caps and
cheering. As they reached the tower, Vernon
and Reginald heard distinctly, "Hurrah! Long
live Mr. Vernon! Our young master for ever'
( rod bless our young master ! "
Vernon's eolour rose; his eyes sparkled as he
took off his hat, and returned their virus v, ith a
low inclination, lie descended immediately, and
ipped to shake hands with them, and to speak
the few kind hearty words, which remained long
in their all'ectionatc remembrance, alter the tongue
that uttered them was silenced. As be proceeded
down the hill, many were the fervent blr^n.
invoked on his head, mingled with some pitying
remarks on his delicate appearance. There was
156 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
now but a short distance to traverse before they
reached the house; but though it was all down-
hill to the terrace, when the enthusiasm the ren-
contre with the workmen had called up had
passed away, Vernon seemed quite overcome.
He leaned heavily on Reginald's arm, and often
paused ; but to all Reginald's bantering remarks
on his laziness, he scarcely made any reply ; and
at length Reginald was alive to the fact, that
there was something very much amiss, and felt
anxious to get him home as quickly as possible.
The ascent up the broad steps was fearfully
tedious. Vernon's breath seemed almost gone,
as they reached the terrace. He staggered across,
with Reginald's help, and sat down on one oi
the little iron seats placed near the buttresses,
gasping.
" Dear Vernon, you are very ill. What is it?"
said Reginald.
He was afraid to leave him, yet anxious for
help, and was going to call out, when Vernon
looked up piteously, and just gasped out, "No,
don't ; I shall be better."
He then bent his head down, and leaned it
against the buttress.
For a few minutes Reginald stood in distressed
silence, looking at him. At length he drew a
deep breath, and then, looking up at his cousin
with his eyes full of tears, he said, —
" It is of no use deceiving myself any longer.
I cannot, Reginald. I am sure I am dying ; and
I) \s|[\\ i)o|) I'HIOKY. lOt
I /.m a coward, for 1 dare not be told that I
am."
Poor Reginald felt as if his circulation had
suddenly stopped, and he could not speak at first ;
but, soon recovering himself, he replied as checr-
fullv us be he could, —
• Nonsense; you are low-spirited, Vernon:
you must not give way in this manner. You
have taken eold ; but a little cold does not kill
one, though it is oncomfortable. Never say 'die,'
— it is not like you."
" Therefore," returned Vernon, " you may be
vine it is not a little that has made me say it.
Reginald, I have much to Bay, but this is too
public a place ; let me have your arm up stairs.
Stay one moment : promise me that you will
never Bay you saw me in tears. I am so weak,
and so broken down, I could not help it; but it
is most unmanly."
Eteginald, nevertheless, could hardly restrain
his ow n. as he gave the earnestly required promise ;
lie knew how intense must have been the feeling
that could draw them from his cousin. — for himself
especially. He led him in silence through the
hall, and they mounted the stairs very slowly,
though Vernon exerted himself sufficiently to
excite no particular attention among those servants
who wen- Standing about. When thej reached
his room, lie rang the bell, and Lying down on the
bed closed his eyes. Reginald was bo bewildered
he hardh knew w li;vt to door what be tllOUght,
158 DASHWOOD PllIORY.
but the speedy entrance of the valet relieved him
from his perplexities. Directly Basire saw Vernon,
he produced a restorative, and tenderly raising his
head, he gave it him. In a few minutes Vernon
appeared much as he had been before the com-
mencement of the walk.
" Merci, Basire," he said, with a smile. " Mon
cousin ne connait pas ces affaires-ci ; nous,-— nous
y sommes accoutumes. Mettez la bouteille sur
cette petite table, et puis vous pouvez quitter la
chambre. Je desire etre seul avec Monsieur."
The servant, with a manner in which affection
and concern were blended, did as desired, and left
the room with a noiseless tread, after Vernon had
further desired that if Dr. Macey called, he shoidd
be shown up at once to his room.
" And now, Reginald, I have a long tale to tell
you, which I can tell to no one but you. I cannot
tell my parents, they are too much wrapped up
in me. My grandfather — poor grandfather ! he
would not break it gently to them. Oh, Regi-
nald ! take care of your health. I am sure it is
a sin to neglect it. I am heavily punished for my
self-will. Take care of beginnings ; you are well
now, and perhaps have naturally a stronger con-
stitution than I have; but I never thought I
could be ill. It seemed nonsense; but oh, what a
bitter reality it is now — a full cup of happiness
at my lips, it is about to be dashed down for ever ! "
" My dear Vernon," said Reginald, very ear-
nestly, " what did you mean by saying you had
das u wood rniouY. 159
a little cold? What did you mean by trilling
about your laziness ? Oh, Vernon ! if you are so
ill, how you have bees deceiving us ! and why ? ;:
" I have told heaps of lies, I fear," replied
Vernon, sighing deeply ; " but I hope they will be
forgiven: they were on a great emergency to ca>e
myself and those so dear to me, and to whom I
am so dear. I persuaded myself it was the ease.
I would if I could. Don't look so grave; your
ante David did the same in danger."
■• And the consequence was the destruction of
a number oi' innocent persons. It ought not to
be excused, dear Vernon, and you of all people."
" AVcll, no more of that," said Vernon, im-
patiently ; "' nobody calls excuses and evasions,
lies, God knows, there was reason enough. Well,
here is my story. I believe the mischief was
principally done at Torquay, the last night I was
there; but I would not believe anything was the
matter, because my time was so valuable. After
I returned to Cambridge I was not well, and ex-
amining for my degree did not improve it; but I
got on till Easter somehow, and then the rest and
change did mc so much good, that I thought my-
self (mite well, in spite of the cough. You know,
Reginald, I was used to the cough by that time.
However, it was rerj bad sometimes, especially in
the morning. I used to resolve to ha\e aihiee in
the morning, and think myself quite well at night ;
and so it went OB till the siunint C came, when I
got wonderfully well. Then the Mediterranean
ICO bASHWOOD PRIORY.
was advised, and I expected to be set up, and so
I was, partially; this terrible cough had nearly
ceased, and all went on pretty well till about a
month ago. I was coming home, but I was laid
up a fortnight at Brighton. Happily I told no
one I was coming, so no one knew. St. John
thought me at home, and they at home thought
me on board ship/'
" Did you not have advice ? "
" To be sure, and got well again, and was
advised to go to sea again to Madeira; but he
was very encouraging, saw no danger, et cetera.
Of course I did not care about Madeira, and I
went to the Isle of Wight for ten days, and then
came here, much better I hoped — much better —
but here I am nearly as low and weak as ever.
My father insists upon my seeing Dr. Macey, and
I dread to see him."
" But I don't see whv, if vour Brighton man
was so hopeful."
A'ernon sighed.
" I wished to believe him. I did believe him,
Reginald ; but vet something continuallv checked
that ; and yet I have been very sanguine, not
alarmed enough at any time. I am better now,"
he added, sitting up. " Perhaps, after all, my fears
arc mere lowness of spirits; I am not generally
troubled that way."
" I think so still/' said llcginald, cheerfully ;
" :md let me order vou something to eat : vou will
be better then, and all these fancies will nv awav."
DASHWOOD PEIOEY. IC1
" Promise me you will say nothing about I
till after to-morrow/' said Vernon. "My fat:
would put off the festivities, and so many will be
disappointed. It must not be, Reginald; they
will do me good — a little excitement does."
" But if you arc ill, Vernon ? "
" But I am not," said Vernon, eagerly ; " not
ill enough, at least. I have been making a fool of
myself. You must promise, Reginald, not to pre-
vent the fete, for my sake. Remember, this
in confidence."
Reginald gave a reluctant consent, just
Dr. Macey was announced. At the mention of his
name, Vernon coloured, and then turned pale ; but
he commanded himself well, and after a few
marks, begged Reginald to leave him alone for a
few minutes. Reginald retired to the adjoining
room; but the few minutes were lengthened to
half an hour, and when Dr. Macey left the roc
Reginald arrested him at the door with a trembling
" How is he ? "
Dr. Macey's manner was exceedingly agital
he could hardly say, — ■
" He cannot live many months, Mr. Mortirm r ;
the disease has made ground fearfully, (in to
him,— keep him up. Oh, thai that line
man should he taken ! Poor fellow ! — he has
been sadly careless of himself; but it is the ■■
of them all."
B -maid possessed much strength of mind;
but he needed all, as he mechanically <<ln
162 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
Dr. Macey, who hastened down stairs and out of
the house, without asking to see Lady Digby.
"Vernon was lying full length on the bed ; his
coat and waistcoat were on the floor beside it,
and both his arms were laid across his eyes. He
did not move when Reginald entered ; but, as he
approached the bed, he said, in a low muffled
voice, "Leave me alone now. I must be quite
alone, Reginald, — quite alone for a little while."
Reginald could hardly speak ; but he mustered
Iris emotion sufficiently to say gently, " You are
not fit to be alone, dearest Vernon."
" I am/' replied Vernon, suddenly sitting up
in the bed, and displaying slight traces of tears
on his white haggard countenance. " I must pass
alone soon ; no comfort can reach me there.
Reginald, I made him tell me all; he speaks the
truth ; I knew he would, and therefore I dreaded
this visit. Oh, my God ! " he added, clasping his
hands, and looking out on the fair view visible
from the window at the foot of the bed, " to leave
this, — can it be ? — with all youth's dreams unful-
filled. It is impossible ! "
" Dear, dear Vernon, calm yourself," said poor
Reginald. He hardly knew what to say; a burst
of bitter tears seemed almost necessary to himself.
Vernon sat a moment or two in the same atti-
tude without moving.
" This is unmanly, Reginald," he said, at length,
getting off the bed, — " this is most unworthy of a
man ; but sickness has unnerved me."
DASUWO(M) PBI0B1 1G3
ic
Lie down, dearest Vernon/' said Reginald,
gently taking his hand, " I will fetch aunt
Beatrice."
" That you must not, Reginald ; she must not
know it yet ; the children and tenants must h;n i
their day ; I can hold out well ; I shall be well
to-morrow. Say nothing, Reginald/' he con-
tinued, passionately, " I must have this satisfac-
tion. You have no idea how much better I am from
day to day ; my illness has been too deceitfully
\ ariable throughout. Dr. Macey will be one of
the company to-morrow, and will look after me.
He has promised to evade the matter till the
twenty-fourth ; and I, — I shall humour him b\
wearing a blister to-night. But what does it
matter ? a dying patient may be humoured. Foi -
give me, Reginald," he added, after a slight pause,
" illness makes me petulant ; you should have left
me alone."
Reginald laid his hand very tenderly on his arm.
" Come, lie down, my dear Vernon ; I will pro
mise anything, if you will rest."
me that ; or, rather, remember your
OS promise, and I will do anything. I will
take care of myself," said Vernon, throwing him
self again on the bed, and again sitting Dp.
" Oh, Reginald ! Aristotle and Plato will not
help us much here. Oh. Reginald ! philoaoph]
will not. do. 'How dieth the wise man, even
tin- fool! Surely I have spent my days fa
nought ! ' "
\i
1G i DASHW00D PRIORY.
" Look above, dear Vernon," said Reginald,
in a choking voice ; " Jesus will help. He alone
can soothe the dying bed. His entire righteous-
ness can save the sinner. His finished work is
enough even for the chief of sinners."
" Ay," said Vernon, bitterly; " but I don't feel
myself a sinner. How would you have me come
and ask a favour — and such a favour — in a last
extremity, of one whom I have slighted or despised
all my life ? I cannot, Reginald ; I am, at least, no
hypocrite ; religion has, as yet, had no charms for
me ; and should I not despise myself, and doubt
my own sincerity, if I should seek it now, when
nothing else can charm or help me ? God is too
great to be trifled with, Reginald."
" He is love, Vernon," said Reginald, earnestly.
" ( Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast
out.' "
" But if I were in health, Reginald, or likely to
live, I should not wish to come to Him ; and is it
not cowardice to desire it now ? "
" Cowardice ! dear Vernon ? Cowardice to ac-
knowledge His greatness ? — that He is God, and
not man, therefore He will have mercy even in
the eleventh hour. I do not know how to speak
to you, my dear cousin; it is adding sin to sin to
doubt Christ's mercy, and to stand aloof in pride.
Is it not something like the Israelites : ' Thou
saidst there is no hope ; no, for I have loved
strangers, and after them will I go ? ' Pray, dear
Vernon; He will give you all the feelings you
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 1G5
want as well as the gifts. Pray, dear Vernon ; it
will do you more good than anything I can say.
Make your requests for Christ's sake ; there is a
plea at once. You are too sinful to ask; but
Christ is all holiness ; in Him the Father is ' well
pleased.' "
" Pro;/ !" said Vernon, bitterly ; " I, who tumble
into bed every night, and go about my business
every morning without a prayer? "Will He not
laugh at my calamity '1 lie will not hear me. I
must cat the fruit of my own way, Reginald.
Tell me nothing more now, at least; I cannot
bear anything now. I can give myself chapter
and verse for every doubt. I know the Bible
better than you do, and I remember it, — indeed,
I remember much of it now. Leave me, my
dearest Reginald, I want quiet, — I want quiet ; I
have gone through much to-day."
Reginald obeyed the eager, craving command.
But Vernon called him back again to request he
would not go near his mother, nor let it be known
that they had returned from their walk.
"Have some lunch upstairs, Reginald; you
have had nothing to eat yet. I shall be down at
dinner. How thoughtless I have been about yon '
Reginald acquiesced, and sadly returned to Ins
o\\ 11 room.
Full three hours elapsed before he was again
summoned, and it was nearly seven o'clock when
he re-entered his cousin's room. \ emon was
now quite calm and collected, and spoke with his
166 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
usual cheerfulness to Reginald, asking his assist-
ance to help him on with his coat.
" Basire has just dressed me, but I wanted to
see you; I dismissed him, thinking you would
help me. I have a slight impediment in the
shape of a blister between the shoulders. It is
not very troublesome now : I put it on as soon as
it arrived, that the business might be over early
to-morrow. I look pretty well, I think, now," he
said, smiling. " Now, if you are dressed, we will
go down."
Reginald did not dare to dispute his wishes, for
fear of exciting him, and they descended to the
drawing-room. Though they had timed their
descent only a few minutes before dinner, there
was time enough to receive many questions, and
to be obliged to parry some, on their morning's
walk. Sick at heart, Reginald could not assume
the animation of his cousin ; and knowing little
of his disease, he wondered at the astonishing
cessation of his cough, the beauty of his colour,
and the fire of his eyes that evening. He did not
dance, nor join the musical efforts after dinner,
but all that struck any one was that he seemed a
little tired.
Lady Digby stopped him at night to ask
whether Dr. Macey had been, and what was his
report; and received a careless answer, though
the question rent his heart.
" Just as I expected. You will see him, I dare
say, on Friday, and you can ask him all. He
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 167
thinks I want care, mother/' he added, more
gravely j "and I am going to be very good, I
assure you/'
" I wish we had put off your birthday, dear,"
said his mother, anxiously.
" I don't," said Vernon. " It would be a great
disappointment to me. Have not I been looking
forward to it for eighteen years? Good night,
dearest mother."
•• He does not look ill to-night, though," said
!v Ditrbv to herself as he went, vet she sighed
it a * ■ ^^
very deeply.
168 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER XII.
" By grace ye are saved, through faith ; and that not of your-
selves : it is the gift of God." — Ephes. ii. 8.
" Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while
the evil days come not." — Eccles. xii. 1.
Basire slept in the same room with his master,
and the blister was attended to early in the morn-
ing, full an hour before a band of music, simul-
taneously with the fine peal of church-bells,
struck up under Vernon's window. He was
much relieved ; his cough had been better during
the night, and the fever was considerably abated.
Forgetting his invalid condition, and the caution
of his medical man concerning the morning and
evening air, he threw on his dressing-gown with
his usual impetuosity, and hurried to the window
to acknowledge the early salutation. Basire was
on the watch, knowing but too many instances of
his master's imprudence, and as Vernon's hand
was on the latch of the large casement, he rushed
forward and respectfully interfered.
" Monsieur, le brouillard. Rappelez-vous Mon-
sieur le docteur V
But Vernon's enthusiasm and self-will both
rebelled: he struggled; the poor valet, firm to
the injunctions he had received from Reginald
DASHW0OD PRIORY. 1GD
and Dr. Macey, still persisted in his well-meant
resistance, only adding exasperation to his deter-
mination. Vernon's anger gave him a fictitious
strength ; he pushed the man aside, and burst the
window open in triumph. It was but a short
triumph. An exclamation from him called the
valet once more to his side ; a short cough
and a gush of blood from the mouth announced a
broken blood-vessel. The poor young man was
sobered and alarmed ; he staggered to the nearest
chair, and endeavoured to stanch the bleeding
with his handkerchief. The alarmed servant ran<r
the bell violently, but before he could reach
\ ernon, the great exhaustion attendant on the
hemorrhage had laid him prostrate. Reginald
was the first who entered, and he assisted Basire
to lay his fainting cousin on the bed, and then
sent him for a doctor.
It was not long before other members of the
family poured in, for Basire had spread the news
he ran. Sir Francis, Lady Digby, and Sir
George were there almost immediately, in agony.
"What could thev do? It was a sight for the
birthday morning. All thought him dying, lie
had not moved after he was laid on the bed : t In-
stained dressing-gown and pillow, the white, white
face, the closed eyes, and the slow drops oozing
from his half-open mouth, all told the sad tale.
After the first alarm, and the consequent inde-
scribable confusion, had a little subsided, they all
looked on in silence. Sir Francis raised his head
170 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
and Lady Digby gave him a little water ; Reginald
made a way among the attendant crowd that the
air from the still open window might fan him.
There it came, and borne along on it came the
music of the merry bells in honour of the dying
youth. Sir Francis looked distractedly from his
dear son, and laying his head on the pillow,
exclaimed, —
" Stop those bells ! Some one go, quick ! "
There was no lack of messengers, and a few
minutes after, one burst into the belfry with the
appalling news —
" Mr. Vernon 's dying ! Stop the bells."
Everything was arrested hurriedly ; each guest
ere he had left his chamber knew the sad tale,
and in the course of the day all but the imme-
diate relations of the family had left the castle.
The village doctor arrived shortly, and about two
hours after Dr. Macey, when the object of their
solicitude was a little revived. But he lay little
removed from insensibility all the day, constantly
attended by his parents, Dr. Macey, and Mrs.
Mortimer, who knew more of nursing than her
sister. Sir George, too, would not be forbidden
the room : he stood the picture of woe at the foot
of the bed, very quietly watching all that was
done for him, once or twice saying, in a low tone,
" Poor fellow, I was angry with him yesterday."
Ah ! at such times how bitter is the remem-
brance of an angry thought ! Though Sir George
had some cause for his anger, his was bitter;
DASI1WOOD PRIORY. 171
and how much more when the anger is without
aose !
There was a slight improvement towards the
. ml of the day, and the next still more. He was
not allowed to speak, and he made no effort to do
so. He fixed his eyes, from time to time, upon
one or the other of his attendants : at times there
was an intensity of affectionate gratitude in the
gaze, but generally it was one of settled melan-
choly. Earnest were the prayers offered for him,
and no opportunity was lost of repeating texts
from the Bible to him, but he seemed not to
notice them, either too weak to comprehend or
too indifferent. One morning he looked anxiously
around from one to the other. Mrs. Mortimer,
Lady Digby, and Sir George were all in the room,
and as each in turn came to the bedside he slightly
shook his head. At last by a great effort he said,
" Louis."
Louis had been so much overcome, that his
mother had not allowed him to sec Vernon often
since the birthday; he was soon summoned now,
ami immediately appeared. Vernon smiled sadly,
and taking his hand, signed him to stoop down to
him. When Louis was near enough to hear, lie
said, in the low whisper in which lie had Bpoken
since the fatal morning, "Tell me something,
I uis; tell me something. The Bible, Louis —
all is dark."
Louis trl; such a sensation of choking in his
throat, that at first he eoidd hardly comply. lie
172 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
sent up a heartfelt prayer for guidance and
strength, and then gradually gaining power as he
proceeded, repeated passage after passage from the
Sacred "Word to his poor cousin, whose eager eyes
were fixed on him as if he would drink in all he
could say. At length he paused, after concluding
a passage from the fifteenth of the first Epistle to
the Corinthians.
Vernon looked unsatisfied, and pulled him
down again.
"There is nothing," he whispered. "O Louis,
the heavens above are as brass ! I cannot believe,
I cannot feel."
" ' Faith is the gift of God/ dear Vernon."
" Too late," murmured Vernon.
"No, no. It is yet the accepted time, dear
cousin. Pray, dear Vernon ; pray."
Vernon shook his head, and Earned away from
Louis.
" Remember the labourers of the eleventh
hour," urged Louis.
" They laboured ; I cannot," said Vernon.
" We are not saved by works, Vernon. ' By
grace ye are saved/ "
" ' Through faith,' " murmured Vernon : " I
have none."
" ' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the waters ; and he that hath no money, come ! ' "
repeated Louis.
Vernon shook his head again, and restlessly
moved his hands.
DASHW00D PEIOBY. 173
" Remember the dying thief ;" and Louis
repeated, with a faltering voice, Cowpcr's beau-
tiful hymn, —
" There is a fountain filled with blood."
To his great alarm, Vernon raised himself in
bed for a minute, and said, in a voice just
distinct enough to be beyond a whisper, —
" It is like offering the blind and lame for
sacrifice, to give myself to God now — now .'"
He sank down exhausted, and Louis was
obliged to recall his nurses from the adjoining
room, whither they had retired to leave him alone
with the invalid. They dared not allow the con-
versation to be renewed. Vernon made no allusion
to what had passed, when alone with liis mother
and aunt ; but his poor mother knew the anguish
of spirit which those beseeching eyes betrayed.
He was too weak to affect disguise, and he looked,
BOW and then, from one to the other as if he
would say, "Give me some comfort;" and they
could not give it. It was a great relief when he
sank into a heavy slumber, which lasted some
time. "When he awoke he asked for Louis, and
for the next day or two seemed hardly comfortable
when he was out of sight; though, with his usual
isideration for others, he would not allow him
to be constantly in his room. They were often
leu alone for B short time, when it was found
Louis was BO precious, and \ ennui made him
pray aloud, and would sometimes put his thin
hand into In- cousin's, BS if he wished to make
174 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
the words his own, but he seldom made any
remark.
One day, about a week after the breaking of
the blood-vessel, when Reginald and Lady Digby
were with him, and he appeared to be sleeping,
he suddenly opened his eyes, as if some vision of
brightness had passed them. He clasped his
hands, and murmured, —
" ' The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan ; is not this
a brand plucked from the burning?' "
His attendants listened with trembling joy.
Reginald rose, and stood looking at him ; but he
closed his eyes again, and seemed lost in contem-
plation, his lips occasionally moving. Presently
he looked steadily at Reginald, and said dis-
tinctly, —
" e And he said unto them that stood by, Take
the filthy garments from him.'' "
" His mind is wandering/' said Mrs. Mortimer,
as she watched the vacant expression of his gaze.
" Who is that, Vernon ? "
" ' I will praise Thy name, because Thou hast
done it, 5 " said Vernon again. There was some-
thing very solemn in the words uttered by the
small weak voice, while the speaker seemed so un-
conscious of the realities around him ; he seemed
to try to collect himself : "That Aunt — Reginald
— Aunt. Dear mother, you know the cup of cold
water. What a comfort Louis has been to me ! :i
" My darling/ 5 said his mother, " are you rest-
ing on your Saviour ? are you able ? "
nvsmvooD nuoiiY. 175
The question did not seem to reach him in its
full meaning, for the mind seemed partially dis-
turbed. Presently he said, "Jesus, Master, haw
mercy upon me ! God has been merciful to mi
sinner. Oh, wonderful love ! M
They stood around in mingled dread and grati-
tude, and in a little while he roused himself more
perfectly, and spoke with more strength.
" Dearest mother ! dear aunt ! how long you
have been watching a poor self-willed sinner! I
want to see my lather, and poor grandfather.
Erery one, mother. There's a strange feeling in
my head ; but I am not alarmed/' he added
calmly.
It Mas not long before Sir George and Sir
Francis, with some of the elder members' of tin
family, arrived. Vernon held out his hands to
them, and looked unutterable affection at his
father.
" Forgive all my petulance, dear father — deal
grandfather. I have caused you much sorrow, all
by my self-will, and I have Buffered much; but
that is gone. Louis ! ,; The strange wild
presnoil passed over his face, and, apparently un-
coil of his weakness, he made a greal efforl
to colli et his thoughts, and thanked them all :
their kinds
' I ! '■■'. • an humble hope. — Oh, all remember,
. God before the evil days come."
lie attempted to speak again, but Ins spi eeli
grew incoherent, and after anothei eaiD < (Fort, he
176 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
closed his eyes for sleep, as though no one were
present. Sir Francis knelt in speechless grief at
the head of the bed, and took the small passive
hand again. Mr. Mortimer, inviting all present
to join, commended the dying youth to his God,
thanking him for the peace they trusted he had
found at last. It was very solemn, but joy was
even in the midst, among those who had longed
for his soul's safety. Before the prayer was con-
cluded, Vernon, who had appeared quite uncon-
scious, was in a sweet slumber. It lasted for
several hours. He woke towards midnight, and
asked for some water, but there was no reco^ni-
tion of the presence of his relations. His wan-
dering mind strayed on the passages that had
come upon him with the dawn of light, in his last
hours. As he finished the water, he murmured —
" They set a fair mitre on his head. Lead me
to living fountains — the Lamb shall do that. If
thou knewcst the gift of God. Mother, the gift
of God is eternal life ! "
His unwearied watchers caught many disjointed
fragments of texts; but he sank to sleep again
without any consciousness of their attention, and
in that long sleep of many hours, his spirit passed
away.
We will not lightly touch on their grief. It
was not sorrow without hope, and it left abiding
impressions. Sir Francis did not soon forget his
beloved son's last words, and when the first bit-
terness of his heavy grief was over, he sought
DASHWOOI) ntlORY. 177
earnestly to lead his household more in the fear
of God than he had ever thought necessary. One
strong tie that bound him to earth was removed.,
and in after-years he blessed the Hand that had
taken his idol.
Young reader, remember .vow thy Creator in
the days of thy youth, before the evil days draw
nigh. The evil day may be sudden — there may
be no time to call, " God be merciful to me ! " In
that dread hour of darkness and dismay, what can
support the trembling sinner, but the blood of
It -us? It has been justly observed, "The Bible
gives one instance of death-bed repentance, that
none may despair; and but one, that none may
presume. You cannot believe of your own will.
This is • the gift of God/ If you refuse Him
that speaketh now, offering you that gift, He may
refuse it to you in your hour of need. Strive to
<ntei' in at the strait gate; for many shall seek
to enter, and shall not be able, when once the
Master of the house hath shut to the door. ;i
178 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER XIII.
" When now mature in classic knowledge,
The joyful youth is sent to college."
/. Warion.
Months rolled away. Arthur Digby had passed
his final examination, and taken honours, — infe-
rior, indeed, to those of his brother, but the more
honourable to him, as he belonged to a college
which had the unenviable reputation of doing
little. Meredith and Reginald pursued their
studies with a moderate degree of application;
and Frank, after drawing on himself censure in
various ways for a few terms, concluded his career
at Cambridge, by being presented with a liceat
migrare, in consequence of a practical joke played
off on one of the dons.
Arthur Digby's twenty-first birthday passed
quietly, the festivities being confined solely to
the tenantry, the family leaving the castle for a
month, and spending the Christmas season quietly
at a small watering-place. When it was decided
that Louis' health was sufficiently established,
and that he had attained a sufficiently mature age
to brave the fatigues and fascinations of the uni-
versity, the grand difficulty to be settled was
where he was to be placed. Mr. Mortimer had
DASIIWOOD PRIORY. 179
hitherto, for many reasons, given the preference
to Cambridge, though retaining a natural yearn-
ing for Oxford, which was his own university.
Many of Reginald's friends and relations were at
Cambridge, and its vicinity to Dashwood rendered
it the more desirable for his eldest son, especially
as Mr. Mortimer dreaded the baneful effects of the
doctrine promulgated at Oxford. Yet, although
the latter reason would seem to hold good more
in Louis' case than Reginald's, Louis' tastes and
acquirements pointed to Oxford as the university
best calculated to call them forth ; and as Regi-
nald had already passed half his time, there was
less inducement to place him with his brother ;
whereas Hamilton and many of Louis' school-
fellows were at Oxford. Finally, as Louis' own
« ishes all went south, Mr. Mortimer decided on
gratifying him ; and his father's old college being
chosen, his name was placed on the books.
The summer that saw his nineteenth year com-
pleted was destined for his matriculation ; and lii
hi !' availed himself of the opportunity afforded
by a long-promised visit to an old friend near
Oxford, and took Louis up with him. A i
days after their arrival at House, they Bet
off in an open carriage to the renowned city,
which was ten miles distant.
" Oh, rather \" exclaimed Louis, ai thej dren
oear the end of their journey, and were entering
Oxford by the London road, — " Oh, father ! what
a beautiful place it is! Tell me, can I sec my
N 2
180 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
college ? What towers are those ? — and that
dome ? It is far more beautiful than Cambridge.
It seems as full of trees as Norwich ; but Norwich
cannot boast those towers and that dome."
Mr. Mortimer was very ready to explain all his
son desired, and was in the midst of the informa-
tion as to which was the Radclyffe Library, which
All Souls, and which Christ Church, when a sweep
of the road materially altered their view, and,
passing Maudlen Bridge, they were driving up
High-street at a rapid rate. Here Louis was so
entranced, that he forgot to speak ; and it was
not till he was fairly set down at the " Mitre "
that he expressed to his father his conviction that
he had never seen so beautiful a street, and that
Oxford far exceeded all his expectations.
Freshmen ! ye will excuse the many bewilder-
ing sensations, — the sort of rapturous awe, — the
feeling of conscious dignity, that he was to belong
to that city, to make one of its numerous gowns-
men, whom he now thought of as almost superior
beings. At any rate, I may be excused for sup-
posing that a youth of nineteen had not risen
quite superior to them.
" Well, Louis," said his father, when he had
given his directions respecting the carriage, " now
to business. We have much before us ; and, first,
we must find out my old friend, your future tutor,
Louis."
Louis was standing an intent spectator of the
passers-by.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 181
" Father, I believe I saw Trevanniou just now ;
and, look, surely that is Charles Clifton."
I If was about to dart after the retreating:
figure, when it suddenly disappeared; where, he
was not quite certain, for he was at some distance
on the opposite side of the way.
" Come, I cannot afford time for chases after
your schoolfellows now/' said his father. " Come
along."
A few minutes' walk brought them to
College, and here they repaired to the tutor's
rooms. Mr. Mortimer was warmly welcomed by
his old friend, to whom Louis was, of course, duly
introduced. Shall we be allowed to say that his
feelings on this introduction Mere of a very similar
description to those which possessed him in the
ancient days of his boyhood, when set down at
t lie door of Ash field House; but his inexperienced
imagination on the subject of college authorities
was considerably modified by the plain, courteous,
and polished manners of the gentleman now before
him, who, so far from having all his sympathies
with the outer world rubbed off by his long, deep
classical studies, had vet a smile and a tone oi
interest for the young aspirant's admiration
• familiar to himself. They did not
remain long in inaction, time being precious; and
after a little conversation, the principal subjects
of which were our hero's admission and immediate
matriculati a, Mr. L turned to Louis, and
asked what books he had been reading Lately;
182 , DASHWOOD PRIORY.
and having made it at length clear to his mind
that he spoke of Latin and Greek authors, he
produced a copy of iEschylus, and opening it
in the middle of " Prometheus Vinctus," desired
him to construe a few lines, and, after asking
some questions, expressed himself satisfied, and
gave him ten lines of an English work, which lay
on the table, to turn into Latin. Louis did not
find his task so hard as he expected, and was
agreeably relieved to learn that this concluded the
inquiry ; and having further signified his willing-
ness to swear to the Thirty-nine Articles, they set
out on the important business. The first step
was to procure a cap and gown ; and this being
done at the nearest tailor's, they wended their way
to the convocation-house. . It mattered little to
Louis that his father was too much engaged to
talk to him during the promenade thither ; he
had food enough for thought all the way, in the
buildings, and would willingly have lingered
longer in Kadclyffe-square : but here business
commenced of which Louis had afterwards very
little clear consciousness, for he afterwards told
Mary, who was very anxious to hear all the pro-
ceedings, that he did not know what was said or
done; the ceremony might have been in Greek
or Hebrew, for anything he knew to the contrary,
as he was too much overcome by the part he was
taking to be aware of more than the fact that he
kissed a book, signed his name, and, obedient to
a hint from Mr. L , he retraced his steps, and
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 183
found himself again at the college-gates before he
fully realized his new position. As it wanted yet
some time to the dinner-hour, and as Mr. Mor-
timer had one or two flying calls to pay, — one
especially on Frank Digby, who had lately come
up to reside at Oxford in Louis' college, — he bid
adieu to Mr. L here, with the understanding
that they should meet at five, Mr. L having
informed Louis where he would find a place and
dinner at that hour. Not being aware of the
predilection the " men" possess for tattered gowns
and battered caps, Louis marched along in his
new-blown splendour, unconscious that the long
leading-strings, whose use he could not compre-
hend, should, to make a man of him, have been
cut off. However, it signified but little, for his
very new appearance, and undisguised admiration
of everything around him, betrayed him as a very
freshman at once. Frank was out ; and when
everything was done that had been contemplated,
Louis and his father retraced their steps. The
• eta were now full of men returning from their
Iks and rid id Louis carefully scrutinized
the faces he passed, to catch sight of one familiar
to himself. For some time his search was vain;
but as th ae upon Carfax ehureh, lie rad-
ii; caught sight of an elegant figure, wh<
ic bearing and beautifully-chiselled f<
tares were unmistakable, even after four years'
Q( ■ of time. Louis darted from his father
' eet with a welcome OH hi- lips, hut
181 DASHWOOD PRIOllY.
the stately figure swept by without appearing to
see him, and, meeting a friend, proceeded at a
slower rate down St. Aldate's. Louis stood a
minute in rather indignant surprise, and it re-
quired all his father's eloquence to persuade him
that Trevannion had not seen him.
Mr. Mortimer and Louis parted near the hall
entrance, and the dinner-bell ringing at the
moment, Louis was left to make his entree alone.
As he stood doubtfully at the door, the men began
to pour in, and screwing his courage to the stick-
ing-point, he timidly stepped into a noble apart-
ment, of somewhere between forty and sixty feet
long, and thirty feet broad. It was lighted by
windows of the Perpendicular style, which began
about half-way up the wall, and was hung round
with numerous portraits of benevolent founders
and great guns. On each side of the wall, and
down the middle, were ranged the tables, with
stout forms of the same dark oak as the panellings
of the room ; and at the further end was the fel-
lows' table, at which Louis presently saw his father,
and which seemed to him a species of royal dais,
so little did he feel himself in the assemblage, and
so utterly indifferent did every one seem to his
presence. He had completely forgotten all the
directions given him, and was about to take a
seat at the lowest end of the lowest table, when a
well-known voice and merry laugh, which at this
juncture sounded most musically, told him of his
cousin's vicinity, and the next minute Frank had
DASHWOOD PUIOKY. 185
led him to another table, and placed him comfort-
ably near himself. lie was scarcely seated, when
a solitary knock, followed by an immediate rising
of the men, drew him again to his feet, and after
a few indistinct words, mumbled somewhere, which
he concluded was a grace, he with the others re-
seated himself. A bill of fare was next put into
his hand, and having made choice of his dish, he
was speedily served therewith, and after a few
minutes ventured to look round and listen to the
conversation, which at first had to him been an
indistinguishable Babel. Opposite to him sat a
very solemn, demure-looking man, apparently
several years older than any at the table. He
said but little, except when roused by his neigh-
bours, or occasionally by a satirical-looking man
on Louis' left hand, whose tone and manner had
annoyed our hero several times, from its sarcastie
causticity : he felt almost afraid of being the object
of his -ridicule. Between him and Frank there
il to be some intimacy, and they bandied
and dn w out alternately the ludicrous points
of their ris-i/-ris.
Loui>' attention was presently absorbed by a
tali' of some inexperienced equestrian, related with
considerable humour by his satirical companion^
whose aame he soon discovered to be Ford; bu1
the noise increased bo much, that, eager to lose
nothing, he caught only disjointed fragments, and
Pord [) — ssing the Loudesl voice, bia story was
most prominent. It died away amidst plaudits oi
186 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
tt
very rich," " bravo," " very good." " Perfectly
luscious, as Halhed says of the moon ; eh, Halhed.
What's that ? what's that ? »
" Some monkish reason why the weather has
been so fine this month," returned the gentleman
addressed.
" Let us hear it, Halhed."
The solemn gentleman, who had been uttering
a few sentences in an oracular tone, replied as
sententiously as before, —
" Prima, secunda nihil, tertia sicut.
" Quarta, quinta qualis — tota luna talis."
"A sconce ! a sconce !" cried Ford. "Benson,
a sconce here."
The senior commoner, thus appealed to, broke
oif a sentence short, to inquire of Mr. Halhed
whether he denied it.
" In toto," replied Mr. Halhed, indignantly.
" Ford, please to enlighten us."
Ford repeated the distich, while Frank re-
marked on Halhed's reply to Louis, that he
happily just stopped short of another sconce.
" A sconce for Mr. Halhed," called Mr. Benson
to the attendant waiter.
" I shall appeal ! " exclaimed the indignant
Mr. Halhed. "That does not come under the
statute. It is no quotation."
" I am afraid the heads will think you a bad
scholar, if you don't call that Latin, Halhed,"
said the senior.
" You will make yourself ridiculous," said
DASIIW00D FRIOBY. 187
mother. " They gave it against you last
;ime."
" Come now, you can't be obdurate," said
Hamilton, as a huge silver tankard was placed
jefore him, full of frothing ale.
To Louis' great amusement, the sconced martyr
ifted the tankard with one hand, and touching
he liquid with his lips, sent it up to the senior,
,vho performed the ceremony with equal agility,
ind apparently with much greater zest, as he dived
nuch deeper into its contents. The tankard was
:hen passed gradually round the table, till it
•eached Louis, who, with a heightened colour, was
ibout to pass it on to Frank without tasting, when
Ford cried out, —
" Come, you are not to be excused ; when we
ire at Rome, et cetera."
" You must taste it, Louis," said Frank, with a
vickcd smile.
Louis raised it with both hands, and ere he had
I the ale, several voices laughingly called out.
f A sconce here, Benson." The colour deepened
3n Louis' face, and he put down the tankard with
tu inquiring look at his cousin, who seemed the
merriest of the merry at the trap into which he
had fallen. "Why?" he asked, but. with a per-
fectly good-tempered manner; but before Frank
could inform him that he had used both hands to
the tankard, contrary to all established cu-toin,
Mr. Benson had politely excused Lonia as a non-
resident.
188 DASHW00D PRIOllY.
"You are a fortunate man/' said Ford, as
Frank removed the tankard. " You will not be
caught again."
Louis was not sorry when dinner was concluded.
Frank showed him the way to the common room,
where he had been desired to join his father. On
his entrance he was invited to the table, where
his father was seated, and a hope having been
expressed that he had made a good dinner, he was
supplied with a glass of fine old port, and left to
amuse himself by taking a mental inventory of
the comfortable room and its occupants for the
benefit of home, while his father and Mr. L. dis-
coursed very eloquently on thirds and scouts, and
lectures, and private tutors. He was perhaps a
little relieved to find how very much like other
men the fellows were, and how they could talk
of horses and politics without a single Latin or
Greek word, his own imaginings having led him
to suppose that these erudite men never spoke of
anvthinsj but classic authors, or the roots of words,
or uttered a sentence in the vernacular when not
called on to descend to the comprehension of an
unlettered stranger. One of the party especially
attracted Louis' attention; this was a queer-looking
little man, carelessly attired, who gave utterance
occasionally to dry remarks, striking from their
oddity and pithiness. There was a world of kind-
liness in his small twinkling eye, which Louis met
fixed on him more than once, till at length, when
Louis blushed at being caught so often looking
DASIIWOOD PRIOHY. 189
[hat way, he addressed a few words to him, and
liter our hero's modest reply, asked if he had any
friends in Oxford.
Louis answered in the affirmative, mentioning
liis " cousin " and a " very intimate friend."
" Umph ! indeed," said the old gentleman,
holding up his glass to the light, and looking over
it to Louis. " And who may your cousin be, and
your 'intimate friend?' if you have no objection
to name them."
Louis mentioned Hamilton and Frank, and the
i/ld man's countenance brightened, as he said, —
• Mr. Hamilton is a credit to his college;" but
the smile lingered on his face, though he did not
speak of Frank.
Louis at length ventured to inquire if he knew
Frank.
" Umph ! I suppose I know most of the ' men,'
as they call themselves. Poor boys, — I hope you
and 1 shall be friends some day; but perhaps you
think, like some of the harum scarum fellows of
tin- day, that you come up for fun, and go home
to read, — eh ?"
" I hope not," replied Louis, smiling.
"Ay, s" they all say,— umph!" said the gen-
tleman, with a slightly satisfied glance at the
modest blush on Louis' countenance. '' Take
Care and keep close to your intimate friend ; he'll
keep you up to the mark. As for the other —
pom- lad, — he came from Cambridge, I hear ; —
umph! — very unsettled; — never do any good."
190 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
He murmured something to himself; but in
spite of his sweeping censure on Frank, Louis
felt sure that, as usual, his incorrigible cousin
had somehow worked himself into his good graces.
There was a slight pause, and Mr. Royston sipped
his wine, and looked at Louis, and then asked
what he had seen at Oxford ; and, little by little,
drew him out, till Louis was surprised to find
how much he was talking, and how many ques-
tions he had asked about the birthplace of Coeur
de Lion, the residence of Henry Beauclerc, the
college used for a mint in the reign of Charles the
First ; that which had sent forth Erasmus, Laud,
Dr. Arnold, and others, with many other parti-
culars, which were all satisfactorily answered in a
few words, with now and then a little anecdote
annexed. Louis had almost forgotten the awful
presence in which he was, when the time arrived
for him to leave ; and after thanking Mr. L. for
his assistance, and Mr. Royston for his attention
to Louis, Mr. Mortimer departed for the Mitre,
and on the way informed Louis that his friend
Hamilton took pupils, and that he meant to try
to secure his sendees as private tutor for him.
Louis then added his mite of news, more in-
teresting to himself than to his father, that
Charles Clifton had gained a scholasrhip ; " and
do you know, father, he was the youngest
candidate, and quite astonished the examiners.
That old gentleman who talked so much to
me, told me that his competitors were no babies.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 191
I always thought Charlie -would do something
for himself."
" That old gentleman/' replied Mr. Mortimer,
" is the mathematical tutor ; and I am afraid,
therefore, will not stand very high in your
favour/'
" I like him," said Louis, smiling, " however
much I may dislike his likings."
A\ i have already, more than on one occasion,
minutely described the arrival at Dashwood Priory;
our readers will therefore permit us to plead want
of space in excuse for omitting the recital of
Louis' return from Oxford, and the long tale he
had to tell his willing auditors, and allow us
merely to mention, that in a few months a letter
came from Mr. L., to inform Mr. Mortimer that,
a vacancy having occurred, Louis could come 'up
into residence. Parting for school and college
had been of so common occurrence for some
years, that the affectionate little party bore their
separation as quietly as could be expected. There
was great combination in the packing of his
Luggage: over and over again were their contents
displaced, to make room for some indispensable
i forgotten article; and when all seemed ready,
the oight before he set off, Mrs. Colthrop sud-
d' iilv declared her belief that no preserves were
packed up, and forthwith ordered another DOB
down to contain them. Then some groceries
were to till the interaticea between the pots, in
ea-e dear Master Lonis, who was so absentj — dear
192 DASHWOOD PHIORY.
young gentleman, should forget to buy his neces-
saries ; and at last, after stowing away four times
as many things as Reginald would ever have put
up with, his luggage was declared to be quite
ready. The last evening was very cheerfully
spent ; as Louis now and then reminded them he
should only be away seven weeks. But there was,
nevertheless, a little sinking of the heart, — a little
fear of the temptations of his new life; not,
perhaps, the less that his father looked many
times anxiously at him, and his mother was less
cheerful than usual. They did not forget in
that little family circle, where all their affairs
were committed to the gracious Orderer of all
events, to remember him especially that night.
It was settled that Mr. Mortimer should accom-
pany his son to Oxford, and arrange the final
matters concerning his rooms : they were to set off
early the next day for London, concluding their
long journey the following afternoon. The next
morning their plans of operation were materially
altered; for unexpected parish matters peremp-
torily demanding Mr. Mortimer's presence the
day Louis was to commence his college life, he
was, much against his will, obliged to send Louis
alone from Norwich.
" God bless you, my boy," he said, as he shook
his son's hand ; " I hope to be with you in a day or
two. You will be able to manage tolerably, I hope.
Perhaps your friend Hamilton will help you."
Louis set off once more on a long, lonely
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 193
journey, often recalling that anxious inquiring
look he had met the previous evening from his
parents, and mentally resolving and praying that
no ill conduct of his should ever bring sorrow
upon them.
— T-^A^SF^Sflfc&dE^—
194 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER XIV.
" So he poked up the flame,
And got out the tea ;
And down they both sat,
As prepared as could be. "
Leigh Hunt.
Behold Louis safely at the gates of liis college
at half-past five o'clock on a rainy October after-
noon, bewildered and anxious to reach the habita-
tion he could call his own, quite unconscious, in
his eagerness to leave the " Mitre," where he had
been taking a hasty dinner, that he had given a
couple of packages m charge ot the porter which
did not belong to him, in exchange for an equal
number of his own. Having at length discovered
which were his rooms, his luggage was conveyed
thither, and he was left to his solitary reflections.
His first care was to examine his apartments.
The room into which he first entered was panelled
with dark oak, and possessed a venerable casement
window, whose romantic proportions quite accorded
with our hero's organ of veneration. But here
the charm ceased. The furniture, concerning
which he had heard so much about " thirds" on a
former occasion, was by no means of a first-rate
description ; and however much Louis might have
DASIHVOOD PRIORY. 195
tolerated the smoky ceiling;, as consistent with the
antique whole, he by no means admired the dingy
faded window-curtains, the miserably stained
carpet, and the rickety chairs that adorned the
sitting-room. "Why, I do declare!" he said to
himself, "I do declare they must have been
smoking very much here ; surely when my father
comes I shall have a new carpet. Oh, here's
plenty of room for books though, and I shall put
my piano here. How kind it is of dear father to
let me have a piano."
Louis paused in his survey, as his thoughts
rapidly carried him back to home, and he remained
in rather a painful reverie, looking on the spot
where the piano in imagination stood. Rousing
himself, he next proceeded to an inspection of the
two cupboards the room contained, and concluded
with a minute survey of his sleeping-room. With
the latter he was not much charmed, either with
the size of the room or the appurtenances thereof,
and wondered, in alow voice, several times, "How
it wai possible to dress in such a closet." But
not being of an unhappy disposition, after scruti-
nizing all for some minutes, he returned to the
outer room, determining to make the best of
rcumitanoes.
•• How rery quiet it is, ,J he thought. "That is
a i comfort; but 1 suppose the men are not
all in yet."
It wai rapidly growing dusk, and Louis turned
to the dim lire, and wondered where be should
o J
19G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
get candles, when the scout was coming, and then
looked for the poker. There was none, and the
fire was very low. Louis waited patiently, divested
himself of his great coat, kicked the gasless coals
with his toe, and finally sat down in the window.
He would have begun to unpack, but he could
not see to put away his things ; and besides, he
was tired, and did not feel much inclined to litter
his room in every direction with jam-pots, linen,
and broad-cloth. Patiently he sat, still hoping
each minute would bring the scout ; but the faint
light gradually faded away, the dim fire sunk
lower and lower, and the room, though not posi-
tively cold, was chilly and very desolate. He
wandered round the room in desperation, looking
and feeling in every corner for the signs of a bell,
but could find none.
"How am I to get this man?" he murmured.
He looked once more out of the window, but all
he could discern in the uncertain light was a
shadowy outline of a porter with luggage at the
further side of the " quad," and two men entering
a door in the same direction. From two windows
the ruddy glow of fire-light came forth, and
another blind was radiant with lamp or candle-
light ; but beyond this there was nothing but
thick clouds and splashing and dripping. At
length Louis saw a man hastily cross the quad in
his direction, with a lantern in his hand, and he
ventured to open his door and steal out timidly
on the landing. Nothing was to be heard, and
DASHWOOD PRIOKV. 197
nothing was to be seen. He descended, still very
cautiously, and, much afraid of going somewhere
where he ought not, at length reached the ground-
floor, and commenced a search for his cousin's
rooms, which he knew were somewhere there :
and there they were sure enough, with the outer
door fast. Louis knocked ; no answer: a second
time, but all was silent; but just when he was
venture into the quadrangle to find the
retreat of the gate porter, to his great relief a
middle-aged man, with a lantern, entered rapidly
and approached him.
"Beg pardon, sir; mistaken your rooms?"
He turned his lantern curiously on Louis.
" I want Mr. Digby/' said our hero.
" He's not come in yet, sir."
" I thought every one was obliged to come in
to-day," said Louis, feeling very much as if he
had been caught doing a wrong thing.
Y< 8; sir; but most of the gentlemen doesn't
knock in till late."
"Are you the scout'.-" asked Louis. "The
porter al the gate told me he would send you. 1
want some coals and BOme candles in my room.
And there'- no poker."
■• Plenty of coals, sir" said the man, as he
followed Louis. "Mr. Mortimer?" he added.
inquiring!} Louis approached the open door.
replied in the affirmative; and the man
tering presently produced a couple of candle-
from a small room or closet, about half the
198 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
size of Louis' bed-room, which he had not
observed; next he brought out a poker, and
stirred the fire.
"'Fraid you've been very uncomfortable, sir.
Have you any candles, sir? There was none
ordered."
" No ; really," said Louis, " I don't know any-
thing about them. Cannot you get me one for
to-night ?"
" I'll see if I can borrow one or two, sir."
He went away, and returned in a few minutes
with a couple of candles, and placing them in the
sticks, lighted one, and then busied himself in
laying a few sticks on the fire ; when, to Louis'
surprise, he lifted the window-seat on which he
had been sitting and abstracted thence two or
three shovelfuls of coal.
" That's where the coals is, sir ; all handy, sir ;
and when you want anything, sir, if you summon
me, I'll make all straight."
" Thank you," said Louis, smiling ; " I shall be
wiser next time : but how am I to summon vou ?
I see no bell here."
" The gentlemen calls out of the doors and
windows, sir ; they ain't no ways particular about
bells."
" And what is vour name ?" asked Louis.
" Harry, sir."
Louis looked puzzled, and the scout finished by
asking if he could get him anything.
"1 should like some tea by-and-by," said
i' mi.
Louis's Colle,
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 199
Louis. " Can you get me some boiling water, or
must I make it myself ? "
This question was presently answered by the
appearance of a battered copper teakettle from
the closet before mentioned, which was already
■tilled with water ; then Louis asked his assistance
in undoing his store-box, mentally thanking the
provident old housekeeper for her provision of
groceries The scout hinted the necessity of pro-
Aiding some sheets for the bedmaker, as he turned
over the box indicated.
" But these are not my boxes/ 5 exclaimed
Louis. " What am I to do ? I shall have no tea
and no bed apparently to-night."
The scout and his new master stood looking at
one another, and Louis afterwards wondered that
the former could keep his countenance so im-
moveably.
" Well, sir," he said, at length, " we must get
these to their right owners. 'Mr. Moreton/ —
♦hat's No. 3, corner staircase, — not my staircase,
— right-hand side. Is your boxes got a full direc-
tion on 'em, sir?"
Louis replied in the affirmative, and the scout
remarked, —
"Then they'll reach all safe enough, I dare
Bui can vuu get me any tea?" said Louis,
; '• can any one see alter my Luggage?"
"You left it where, sir ? "
\t the • Mure.'"
200 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
The scout reassured him, and then vanished to
procure some tea for our poor bewildered hero.
During his absence, Louis dolefully watched
the ascending flames of his very young-looking
fire, and mentally wondered when he might cal-
culate on the kettle boiling. Before he had solved
this problem, his messenger returned, bringing
with him a pleasant-looking young man, whose
frank and cordial manner prepossessed him di-
rectly.
" I hear you are in distress," he said. " My
name is Nevinson ; I keep near you. This is a
very uncomfortable beginning," he said, smiling ;
"will you come and take a bachelor's tea with
me ? I can offer it hot, with a good fire, too."
"You are very kind," said Louis, warmly
shaking the proffered hand ; " I shall be very
glad indeed to accept your kind offer, for I am
most unfortunately situated. I have brought
another man's luggage by mistake, and am afraid
I am doomed either to the floor or sofa, or a
sheetless and pillow-caseless bed to-night."
" Harry has been to me twice to-night on your
behalf/' said his new friend, " and has told me all
your troubles. If your luggage does not arrive
soon, I shall be very happy to lend you some
sheets. Harry will fetch them."
" I am really in too great a state of distress to
refuse your kind offer," replied Louis; "I am
very much obliged to you."
"Well, come along to my rooms; yours offer
DASHWOOD PRIOKV. 201
but a desolate welcome to a freshman. We will
leave the Held fair to Harry and the bedmaker ;
and I dare say all will be comfortable enough
when you return."
Louis followed his new friend across the land-
ing to an open door, whence the reflection of a
ruddy lire glowed, and presently found himself in a
most enticing-looking snuggery. This room was
panelled like his own ; but a blazing fire shone
upon red carpet, red curtains, red tablecloth, and
plain substantial furniture. An Argand lamp
burned on a table in front of the fire, on which
Mas placed a small tcatray, resplendent with gild-
ing, and a solitary cup and saucer, black teapot,
cream-jug, and sugar-basin. Beyond the tray
were bread and butter, and a preserve-pot of capa-
cious dimensions. On a little table, on one side
of the fire, were two or three books, and in front
of the fire a large red morocco library-chair, which
it was easy to imagine the owner had just vacated.
A kettle, too large for the fireplace, was tenderly
balanced on the edges of the hobs, and was now
Bending forth huge columns of steam, very sug-
'iveofanice cup of tea. To finish the pic-
«•, a well-stocked set of book-shelves on one
Bide, a chess-board and box <>!' men and a flute on
mall console table, and one or two framed en-
rings hanging against the walls, attracted
Louis 1 eyes, and instantly assured him of tin
quii - <>r inv nm acquaintance.
Mr. Nevinson wheeled the large chair to th.
20.2 dashwood priory.
snuggest side of the fire, and invited Louis to seat
himself; and on Louis demurring about occupying
it, lie merrily produced a smaller one from a dark
corner of the room.
" I always keep one for my friends and myself
too. Now turn vours round to the front: vou
are cold, and I am done to a turn. It is rather
an uncomfortable evening."
" Rather ! " echoed Louis : " a verv miserable
evening, I think. You are very moderate in your
terms ; I suppose because your room is so snug."
" Or, rather," replied Nevinson, quietly, " be-
cause I have an antipathy to railing at the
weather."
Louis coloured ; but the reply was like music
to his ears.
" So have I too," he answered, " and I stand
rebuked for my forgetfulness."
Nevinson looked up at him with a peculiarly
bright smile, and filling a cup full of tea, tossed
it into the pot, then seizing the steaming kettle,
filled it.
" You shall have a cup directly. We are our
own tea-makers here, and very good tea-makers
we become in a marvellously short time ; we beat
all the mothers and sisters hollow. I won't say
much for economy, though ; you will find a very
liberal spirit characteristic of Oxonians. "VYe are
many of us not content only with giving our little
all, but what we want we ' borrow, borrow,
borrow ! ' However, rest content that this is an
DASIIWOOD PRIORY. 203
honest cup of tea, as I hope all you get here will
be" he added, as he replaced the kettle on the
hearth. " My kettle is on too magnificent a
scale for iny grate ; I assure you it requires a
conjurer's skill to stick it on the fire ; only Harry
and I can perfectly succeed. One man sticks it
down on one side, and the water runs out of the
lid, then he attempts to remedy it by damaging
the other half of the fire ; and another will arrange
so that it shall tumble over on your feet, if you
have the hardihood to sit near the fire when it
boils. I bought it a year and a half ago, when I
did not fully understand my means of accommo-
dation ; it has served my turn, and I don't like
discarding an old friend. Where's Harry, I
wonder ? "
Hardlv had he uttered the words, when the
scout appeared with some cold meat, which he
placed on the table, and then fetched another cup
and saucer, plate, knife and fork, from some
mysterious recess, and again vanished.
" You are hungry, I dare say, Mortimer."
"No, thank vou; I made a very fair dinner
before my arrival."
Nevinson then produced a toasting-fork and
Bel about making some toast, when, hia pre-
parations being completed, much to Lou
amusement, In- drew the large table nearer to the
lire, and invited Louis to partake of the repast.
Certainly our hero thought he had never seen so
black a CUp of tea as that now handed to him.
201 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
"Sugar? cream?" inquired Nevinson, as he
produced from the tray the several receptacles
for these articles.
Louis thanked him, paused, and took some
cream.
"No sugar?"
" Yes, thank you;" replied Louis, almost afraid
to ask for something that might not be there.
He said nothing, but took his teaspoon and
helped himself very carefully to the saccharine
luxury. The pains he took in chasing the lumps
from side to side before he safely attained his
object attracted his host's attention.
" I see now what you want. How soon we
forget our old experience," he said, as he helped
himself with his finger and thumb. " We use no
other tongs here than those with which nature
has furnished us. I had a pair, but I don't well
know what has become of them. Pray do not
give yourself the trouble of fishing for your sugar
another time in that painful manner."
" I might have remembered too, how very ill-
mannered I thought my brother in that respect,"
said Louis, " Avhen he returned home after his
first term."
" Had you a brother here ?"
" I have a brother now at Cambridge," replied
Louis.
" Have you any friends in Oxford ? "
" A few, I believe," replied Louis : " two in
this college."
DASHWOOD PRIOKV. 205
" And who may they be?"
" My cousin Mr. Digby, and Mr. Hamilton."
"Oli. indeed: Disrbv is vour cousin, is he?"
Baid Nevinson. "What Hamilton are you speak -
ing of? There are two of that name, — William
Hamilton and Edward, who has graduated,
and lives out of college now. He is studying
the- law."
•• My 1 in nil's name is Edward," said Louis,
eagerly; "and I know he has taken his degree.
He is a very dear friend of mine. Do you know
him?"
■• Very little; just to speak to," replied Ne-
vinson; "but I have really almost coveted his
friendship, though I am generally very indepen-
dent in such matters. He is a friend worth
having, Mortimer. Of course, you know he took
a double first, and his perseverance and industry
have only been equalled by the exemplary manner
in which he has passed through this ordeal. It
i> one," he added, looking at Louis; "and
much, I am sure, depends on our first acquaint-
ances and actions. We cannot be too careful
about our friends at Oxford; I am glad you have
bo valuable a one."
"Thank you," said Louis, gratefully.
A little more was said about Hamilton, and
passed from him to examinations, chapels, lec-
tures, and other college topic8, OD which Loins
was naturally anxious to gain as much information
as possible in the time. The tea was at length
206 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
concluded, and the scout being summoned, cleared
the table, and, at the same time, informed Louis
that his missing luggage had arrived, again hinting
at the want of sheets. Louis rose, and afraid of
intruding any longer on the hospitality of his
kind entertainer, wished him good evening ; but
Nevinson would not hear of his leaving him, and
remonstrating on the loneliness of the project,
made him promise to return when the bedmaker's
wants were supplied.
Louis was not long absent, deferring his general
unpacking for a later period, and was once more
installed in his comfortable seat, while his new
friend went across the room for some coals. While
he was on this errand, Louis took up one of the
books that lay on the smaller table near him. It
was a treatise on chess; and not having much
sympathy with that game, laid it down again. The
next proved to be a pocket edition of Sophocles,
which bore evidences of much study. This was
also laid down, and Louis took a third, which proved
to be a neat pocket Bible, full in every direction
with little scraps of paper, scribbled all over. A
Concordance lay underneath it. Louis closed the
sacred volume very reverentially without any fur-
ther scrutiny, but a thrill of warm satisfaction
came over him as he saw it so evidently studied.
Nevinson saw his interest in the volumes, and as
he finished making up the fire and sat down again,
he said, —
" You don't find much to interest you there.
Are you a chess-player?"
i>\>IIWO0D PRIOKY. 207
" No, not at all," said Louis; "I scarcely kuow
the moves."
" I am very fond of it ; it is a noble game/'
replied his companion : " and we all want recrea-
tion sometimes. You are fond of books thoudi,
I fancy," he said.
" Very" replied Louis.
"Well, I think that is the best of all tastes,"
rejoined his new friend.
A silence ensued, when Louis said with great
feeling, bur ratlin- timidly, —
• I am very glad to sec one Book here. I am
sure ire -hall he true friends; at least, if you will
allow me to be your friend."
A little colour mounted into Nevinson's pale
face. He looked steadily into the fire, and for
a few seconds Louis thought he was offended;
but, hardly had the thought passed his mind,
when Nevinson held out his hand with a sweet.
frank smile.
" I must warn you, though," he said, " that
you must not judge that all will think as you and
I, upon whose table you see a Bible ; nay, not
u if it be full of notes. They may only be
' divinity crams.' You know a certain portion ol
the Bible forma B part of our examination."
X*68, hut you had prepared me before," said
Loui> ; '"and here, where I expected to meet non
win. loved the things I am sure we both ralue,
it is doubly pleasant to find my first, acquaintance
a true friend." Both were silent tor a few minutes
?208 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
when a trampling up the stairs and some loud
talking attracted Louis' notice.
" What's that ? »
" Some of the men coming to their rooms, that's
all/' answered Nevinson. " You will hear this at
intervals, with a little extra noise in the quad till
nearly twelve o'clock : therefore vou must not be
alarmed if you are woke out of your first sleep by
a view hallo, or 'forward, there, after him !' or a
noisy scrap of a song, for the late ones will be
very uproarious."
The footsteps had died away somewhere over-
head, when the scout re-entered to ask the friends
if he could do anything more for either. Nevin-
son replied in the negative, and turned to Louis,
inquiring if there was anything he wanted further.
" I thank you," he said, hesitatingly ; " I think
not; you have shown me where to find everything
now. Stay, shall I not want a gown to-morrow ?
I quite forgot that. How can I get it now? "
" Oh, I dare say Harry can supply that want,"
said Nevinson. " Harry, you will have a cap and
gown ready for Mr. Mortimer, to-morrow." Harry
signified his assent and comprehension of the
necessity, and disappeared.
Another hour was spent veiy cheerfully, and
the more Louis saw of his new friend, the more
he liked him. There was a boyish frankness and
sweetness, minjrled with so much true nobilitv of
character, that fascinated while he hardly defined
the wherefore, and an enthusiasm which delighted
DASHWOOD PKIORY. 209
Louis, the more that it was tempered with so much
anxiety to fulfil his duty. At half-past nine our
hero took his leave, and his friend would accom-
pany him to his rooms, to see that all was right.
Louis found a bright tire, with caudles on the tabic
ready to light. His first care after lighting his
candles was to undo his grocery-box, in order to
procure some tea for breakfast. The cord had
been already removed ; but as it was a kind of deal
packing-case, carefully nailed down, his inexperi-
enced hands hardly knew how to open it. Nevin-
son, however, here came to his relief, and forcing
it open with the poker, after another inquiry if he
.ould be of any further service, and inviting him
to breakfast with him the next morning, wished
him good night, and left him to his meditation-.
The first thing Louis thought of when alone was
to fasten ins outer door, and then closing the
inner, he drew his chair to the fire and opened
his Bible
Christian reader! when, after a day of excite-
ment, til change of scene, and of disturbance of
thought, when perhaps this holy book has been so
packed away thai you have not been able to reach
does it not seem very sweet to look upon it
un'r How many sweel thoughts are recalled
by the sight-— ho* boh is that .still hour when you
can commune with its precious contents, and tei 1
thai wherever you are, those promises are yours,
and that though —
All tilings change, He ohaDgea i
P
210 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Louis lay down that night in peace, and thank-
fully remembered the unexpected happiness of
finding a kindred spirit ; and college now seemed
to wear a brighter aspect. He thought if Nevin-
son could walk so blamelessly through its tempta-
tions, he might also.
Everv one who knows the effect of so new a
scene on so excitable an imagination as that of
our hero, will not wonder that he lay awake some
time after he retired to bed, dwelling over and
over again on the events of the day ; but the calm
which the Word of God had given, seemed shed
over all, and at length he sank into a sweet slum-
ber. How long he had slept he knew not, when
an extraordinary noise roused him in some alarm,
and it was a few minutes before his senses re-
minded him of the caution he load received, and
he distinguished the hasty trampling of feet, and
the noisy exclamations of some late revellers,
who had " knocked in " at the latest possible
minute.
He listened with the curiosity natural to his
position, but could hear nothing distinctly. The
noise dispersed gradually in various directions, a
portion coming up his staircase, and at last con-
centrating, as far as he was concerned, in a heavy
trampling, and subsequent laughing and singing
in the next room to his. This was all well enough
for a few minutes, but Louis naturally began to
wish for a cessation of it, when it had lasted half
an hour. But in vain he buried his head in the
DASHWOOD PRIORY. J2 1 1
pillow, and turned from side to side in feverish
attempts to renew his slumbers; the noise con-
tinued with very little diminution till two o'clock,
and then for another half-hour the occupants of
the apartment appeared to be incessantly walking
about, at the end of which time, fairly worn out,
our hero fell asleep, and slept till he was roused
a second time by a tremendous noise at the head
of his bed, as if the Avail outside were falling.
He started up and listened. Daylight was peeping
through his window ; a little more rumbling and
the noise ceased. There was nothing more, and
In- ventured to lie down again, after ascertaining
that it was six o'clock. However, it was now too
late for more sleep, and he presently began to rise.
When his toilette was partially completed, he
heard the scout in his sitting-room commencing
operations for his comfort, and had just put the
last touch to his dress, when a loud " Sir-r/' with
the final r prolonged to an indefinite period,
brought him to the door of his room.
■ Quarter-past seven, sir. Chapel at eight, sir.
wii and cap. Breakfast in your room, sir?' J
• No, thank you," replied Louis. " Whal am I
to pay you for this gown?"
'• Oli. ui ! gentlemen always pays at the end oJ
term, mi-.'' refilled the scout.
Louis said nothing more, and was presently let!
alone. He was not sorry lie had so much time
before him, for he could occupy it well till the
chapel hell began to ring, when arraying himself
v 'I
212 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
directly in the gown provided for him, and with
more hesitation placing the shabby cap on his
head, he sallied forth and reached the chapel door
exactly Avith another man from the opposite side
of the quad.
They entered together, and Louis hesitatingly
turned to the stranger, —
" Can you tell me where I can sit ? I am very
fresh."
" You are one of the very few, I fancy, that like
to acknowledge their verdure," replied the stranger,
smiling. And leading the way into the body of
the chapel, Louis presently found himself in a
convenient seat, and after asking a blessing on the
morning service, he opened his Bible, which he
had brought in with him, and finding out the
lessons, endeavoured to fix his mind on them. In
about ten minutes the men began to pour in ; then
came the dons, and the bell ceasing, a young man
in gown and cap rushed to the door and closed it,
just as an undergraduate pushed in, in whom
Louis recognised Frank Digby.
Louis was not among those who deemed chapel
a " bore." He would gladly have lingered behind
the rush in the chapel, when the prayers were over.
Hardly had he stepped on the threshold when his
cousin arrested him with —
" So Louis, vou did come last night to nestle
under the wings of alma mater, till she considers
you ready to take a stall in the wide market of the
world. I understand you have been in a quandary,
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 213
and took refuge with a saint at last. You must
come arid breakfast with me this morning."
" I thank you, I am engaged."
Eh? You've not lost any time; to-morrow,
then."
•• I shall be very happy," answered Louis.
•lust at this moment a servant approached Louis
with a mi saage from Mr. L., inviting him to
breakfast with him.
•• What am 1 to do?" he said, turning to Frank.
" I am engaged to Xevinson."
•• Under the circumstances, he must excuse
yon,'" said Frank.
Louis hastily returned a proper message by
Mr. L.'s servant, and then ran toNevinson's rooms
to excuse himself. He then repaired to the tutor's
rooms by his direction, and had just reached them
when a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, and
tiuning round, to his inexpressible delight Hamil-
ton's face greeted him.
Will. Nli. Mortimer, so vou have no eves for
. old friend, now you arc a man."
My dear Hamilton," exclaimed Louis, joy-
fully ; " indeed I have looked everywhere for you
nil yesterday. 1 was expecting to meet yousomc-
where, and could not, amid the sea of strange
faci
For a good reason/' said Hamilton, with B
quiet smile; "because I arrived in the night.
Louis, you are sadly undignified \ 1 am afraid you
have a considerable remnant yet of boyhood about
214 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
you. These are raptures quite beyond the dignity
of an Oxonian, I assure vou."
" I do not care/' replied Louis, laughing. " I
hope I shall never be ashamed to acknowledge
that I am glad to see vou. I shall be ashamed of
myself then."
" Well, whither are vou bound ? This is not
the way to your rooms, I presume."
Louis informed his friend of his destination,
and found to his great satisfaction that Hamilton
was to be of the tutor's party. Accordingly, the
two friends made their entrance together. There
were three -of four besides, to whom Louis was
introduced, and much pleasant conversation en-
sued. Louis was pleased to see the evident esti-
mation in which his beloved friend was held, and
listened with much pride to his sensible and in-
telligent remarks. Hamilton being now no longer
an undergraduate, having taken his B.A., was
located in lodgings in thecitv: as he was studvimr
for the bar, he was not likely to leave college for
a year or two, — much of course to Louis' satisfac-
tion. The other young men present were all of
more than a year's standing, and were reputed to
be of the steadiest reading men in the college.
There were no lectures that morning, and Hamil-
ton suggested, when he and Louis had left the
tutor's, the propriety of a walk, and making some
acquaintance with the environs of Oxford. It was
no little advantage to our hero to have so sub-
stantial a friend, especially as Hamilton was as
DASHWOOD PBIORY. 215
determined to exercise a surveillance over Louis
here as he had been at Ashfield House. Their
conversation for some time during their walk
turned upon manners and customs at Oxford; but
as they emerged from the immediate precincts of
tin* city, it insensibly fell on their old school-
fellows, many of whom were in residence there,
or had just left; and Hamilton had many things
to relate of them, which were very interesting to
Louis.
• \ on will be surprised," he said, "to sec what
a nice fellow Trcvannion has grown. Gentlemanly
he always was, but he is really fascinating now.
Old Wykeham says, 'Manners maketh the man;'
if so, Trevannion 's a splendid specimen of a man.
If college would do as much for us all, Louis, we
should have reason to think much of it ; I am
sure, however, it has done little for me in that
respect. I am as uncivil and as unceremonious
as ever, and care even less than ever for others'
opinions ; and that, I believe, is what we all learn,
mure or less, as we grow older and see more of
the world. We understand the worth of any
man's praise."
■■ Perhaps so," said Louis. "I suppose I am
hardly old enough to have arrived a1 that happy
comprehension: I am afraid I am very susceptible
vi-t ; and vou — vou have worked as hard as if you
cared."
•• Tli.:' - an old notion of duty, Louis ■ and yet,
perhaps, we know little of ourselves when v.
216 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
we are indifferent to others' opinions. We are
very dependent on one another. You have not
heard of Clifton's success, perhaps?"
"Yes, I heard of it in the summer; Mr. Roy-
ston told me."
" Do you know that Ferrers was one of the
candidates, and besides being his senior, he is a
two-year man."
"Do you know Ferrers now, Hamilton?"
asked Louis.
" Well, upon my word, I don't, Louis ; I never
felt inclined to renew the acquaintance. He never
was a friend of mine, and his cool behaviour of
old to you quite disgusted me. He is very steady,
I believe ; at least I hear nothing to the contrary ;
but there is something about him that alwavs
repels me."
" I am sorry for that," replied Louis, " because
you would do him so much good."
Hamilton made no reply, and presently changed
the subject.
" So Frank Digby 's migrated. Some people
prophesied truly."
" Unhappily," replied Louis. " I hope all will
go on well here : he was very quiet and serious
at church. I think Frank has many right feel-
ings, Hamilton."
" Indeed he has, Louis. It is a misfortune for
him that he is so popular : some men cannot
understand the true worth of such popularity.
I suppose you know that Trevannion is now a
DA8HW00D P1U0HY. 217
fellow of , and is to be ordained in a few
months r"
"No, I did not," answered Louis; "he must
have worked hard, then. Did von think him
clever.'"
Hamilton smiled significantly, and remarked in
a dry tone, —
"I always thought him of a good family. All
fellowships don't go by order of merit. Re-
member, yon are engaged to my lodgings this
ev« oing, Louis. I shall have Jones, and Trevan-
nion if I can get him, to meet you and poor
Frank. I must look after him a little, if it were
only for poor Vernon's memory."
This was said as Hamilton bid Louis good bye
at the college gates ; and Louis was just entering
them, when his father's voice most unexpectedly
'ted him. Mr. Mortimer had hurried to
Oxford as soon as he was nine, in order to sa\<
him as much embarrassment as possible, and to
Bee that his arrangements were properly con-
ducted. Of course, all previous engagements
were now suspended, and before night everj
desire Louis had respecting hi s comforts was
amply supplied, even to the new carpet and piano.
We presume our readers arc by this time
wearied of detail, and will gladly allow us to pre-
mise that our hero's initiation to the regular
routine of his new duties duly took place, that the
Lecture-rOOm was familiar to him, and that lie
understood how unnecessary it was deemed for
218 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
him to sit in chapel a quarter of an hour before
service began ; that wine and breakfast " coaches"
were no longer so manv mysteries, and that all
his friends had properly paid their respective
calls. Hamilton was installed private tutor to
him, and Trevannion, now arrived at the bloom
of grace and manhood, had been very gracious to
his old schoolfellow at Hamilton's rooms. Nevin-
son's remark on the necessity of choosing first
acquaintances cautiously, Louis found most true ;
for, in spite of Hamilton's constant cautions, he
had more idle acquaintances in a fortnight, through
Prank, than he knew how to manage; and the
round of excitement into which he was almost
inadvertently drawn, before long thoroughly
wearied him, and he longed to return home. He
went very constantly to Hamilton at the appointed
times, and readily joined a little party at Nevin-
son's who met once a week for reading the Scrip-
tures together. This was his great safeguard ; for
in time the giddy and worldly grew weary of his
society, and left him to his own chosen associates,
with little exception.
DA* II WOOD PRIORY. '219
CHAPTER XV.
Kemember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.''
" The Sabbath is God's gracious present to a working world ;
and for wearied minds and bodies it is the grand restorative.
The Sabbath does not arrive like sleep : it does not entrance U3
whether we will or not, but addressing us as intelligent beiDgs,
our Creator assures us we need it, and bids us notice its return,
and court its renovation." — Hamilton's Oasis.
The Sabbath was made for man : for man to use,
but not for man to abuse. But, alas ! how sadly
is the Sabbath slighted; how often is it, according
to the taste and habits of the individual, made
either a day of idleness or secular industry,
of worldly care or worldly pleasure, regardless of
that rich promise made to those who call it "a
delight :" Holy of the Lord ! that they shall
•'delight themselves in Him."
Thia sacred day Louis found, was that most
omonly chosen for "breakfasts" and " wines;"
not that the parties might meet to speak together
of the tilings belonging to the Sabbath, but that
they might the more uninterruptedly, from the
greater leisure, seek their "own pleasure;" thus
reversing the order of things, and becoming more
friTolotu and idle on this blessed day than on that
any of the si\ allowed to man for his own.
Well might the prophet plead with such, " Will a
220 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
man rob God ? yet ye have robbed me : and ye
say, Wherein have we robbed Thee ? But bring
now the sacrifices of righteousness to the store-
house of God's love, and prove Him therewith,
and see if He will not open to you the windows
of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive it."
Louis had once been betrayed, through igno-
rance, into joining one of these Sunday parties ;
but so disturbed was he at the manner in which the
day had been desecrated, that he firmly resolved
nothing should again induce him to break in
upon the sanctity of the time he had been from
his childhood taught to hallow.
For two or three weeks he had avoided the
necessity of declining invitations by engaging him-
self previously to Nevinson or Hamilton ; but at
length a Sunday arrived when some of Hamil-
ton's relations were with him, and Louis did not
feel himself sufficiently intimate with Nevinson to
invite himself two following Sundays, especially
as he had spent the Saturday evening with him.
He had risen early ; and as there was some time
before chapel, after he was dressed, he sat down
to his piano, and quietly played some favourite
hymn-tunes and chants ; at first rather timidly, —
for he had not yet quite overcome a certain fear
of being overheard, — but at length ventured very
softly to sing the words of one or two hymns,
gradually forgetting anything but his own plea-
sure in the coming of the sacred daw
U.YSIIWOOD PKIOllY. 221
When the bell began to ring, he closed his
piano, and, breathing a mental prayer for power
to remember the Sabbath day, went into the
chapel, for the pleasure of remaining there quietly
alone before the general rush ; and when service-
was over, he lingered behind, hoping that the
quadrangle would be nearly clear before he left
the chapel. But, to his chagrin, he found Frank
and a few of his intimates waiting for him at the
door.
" You will come with me, Mr. Louis, this
morning/' he said : " I really believe you have
kept purposely out of my way. Where were you
last night V "
Before Louis could reply, his old acquaintance
Ford, who " kept " the rooms next door to him,
^aid, —
" Diirbv ! do vou know auidit of the heavenlv
sounds that saluted mv ears this mornin<r ? — a
faint, miry-like murmur, gradually swelling into
enthusiasm. Were you practising the ars divina?
>i was St. Cecilia doing honour to the day Ml
propria persona ? "
"1\" said Frank; "I must have sung in my
dreams, it 1 sang before chapel."
• Ay, perhaps I heard it in mine/' rejoined
the other, — "such 'divine airs/ — such ' pious
orgies ! ' "
Louis coloured, but made no remark, and by
this time they had reached Prank's rooms. Prank
hail at the first onset seized Louis' arm. anil mnv
222 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
forcibly pushed him into the room, where break-
fast was laid with all the inviting paraphernalia
incidental to such repasts. Louis stopped at the
door.
" No, thank you, Frank ; not this morning.
Good-bye for the present."
" Nay, not so fast/ 5 said Frank ; " why not
this morning ? "
Louis would have evaded an answer, but his
passage was obstructed by one or two of his
cousin's party, who were standing in the door-
way ; and, with a little hesitation, he replied, —
" I do not like visiting on Sunday."
Frank released his hold with a vexed look.
" I thought you had got rid of these sancti-
monious fancies, Louis," he said.
" I hope not," answered Louis, more firmly
this time, " but rather that they will be greater."
" A saint ! a saint ! " exclaimed one of the
party, as he flung his cap behind the sofa, and
pushed past Louis, — " St. Cecilia herself! "
Ford lifted his cap with mock reverence, as he
made way for Louis to pass.
" Sancta Cecilia! orapro nobis!"
Frank made no further effort to detain Louis,
Avho went immediately to his room.
"I did not know the saints had got hold of your
cousin, Digby," said one of Frank's party, as he
seated himself at the table ; " it is a thousand
pities ; he is too good a fellow to be spoiled."
" He is a good fellow," said Frank, " but always
DASHWOOD PRIOllY. 223
at school too precise in some things; he would
kill his hen it' she laid an egg on Sunday/'
A laugh followed ; but Frank turned the sub-
ject ; and whether Louis' firmness had had any
influence we know not, but he insensibly checked
some amount of frivolity that morning by his own
unusually sedate deportment.
Louis enjoyed his own quiet breakfast exceed-
ingly, and spent his time afterwards, till the time
for attending church, iu reading his Bible with a
commentary, and committing R chapter to me-
mory, according to custom.
At church he met Ferrers, and invited him to
lunch with him. There had been hitherto a con-
siderable amount of backwardness in Ferrers to
meet Louis' advances half-way; he pleaded now,
that " he never went anywhere ; he had not a
moment to spare. 5 '
" You made that excuse the last time I asked
you," said Louis ; " I can generally very well
believe it ; but to-day you cannot be very busy ;
and though it is Sunday, there is no reason why
\w should not quietly meet; we may be able to
do one another some good. I do not like Sunday
\isitinj: generally, but I hope we should not spend
hour or tv, ; her."
•• You will do me good, I dare Bay/' Baid 1 < I
hi.-, colouring; " hut,'' added he, hesitatingly, "I
dearly :is busy on Sunday as on other da] i. w
• • • •
" Hoi ' " asked Louis. u I think ire ought to
be blUJ 00 Sunday in one way. It is not meant
224 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
to be an idle day, but we should not be industrious
in our own business ; and you are not, are you ?"
" I am afraid I am," answered Ferrers.
" You must come," persisted Louis.
Ferrers said no more, and Louis led the way, and
they were soon quietly seated at lunch in Louis'
rooms.
After a few remarks, Louis turned the conver-
sation on the sermon thev had heard that mom-
ing; and from thence he passed on to several
texts in connection, and remembered one or two
little anecdotes in confirmation of what he sup-
ported, referring to Ferrers continually for his
opinion. Ferrers said as little as he conveniently
could, and now and then the conversation flagged
very much, for, earnest as Louis was, he found it
difficult to keep it up alone. At last, he proposed
that they should read a chapter ; and his compa-
nion assenting, and leaving to him the choice of
a chapter, they turned to the fire, and read the
fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Louis made a few
simple remarks on some passages therein, waiting
at intervals, to leave Ferrers room to suggest
something. The latter, however, remained quite
silent, and sat uneasily, playing with the corners
of the Bible he held in his hand.
Louis looked curiously and sorrowfully at him,
and after another pause, he said, " The last verses
are very striking to me ; perhaps I have been
always taught to consider them so. ' If thou turn
away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy
DASHWOOD PIUOKV. 225
pleasure on my holy clay ; and call the Sabbath
a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and
shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor
finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine
own words : then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord ! ' Oh ! Ferrers, it is comparatively easy not
to seek our own pleasure and our own ways, but
not to speak our own words, how difficult! My
conscience always reproaches me at the end of the
day, even when I have been most careful. The
;it thing is not to think our own thoughts, for
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
aketh. Is it not a sweet promise, 'Then thou
shalt delight thyself in the Lord!' 'Blessed is
the people that can rejoice in Thee \' "With all
the hindrances around, and our tendency to de-
light ourselves in other things, it is not a little
thing to name such a premise. We cannot delight
in holy things unless God teaches us. It seems a
parallel passage to tliis : ' Jt' any man will do His
will, he shall know of the doctrine/ Do not you
think so?"
I'errers assented reluctantly, and Louis con-
tinued :
" 1 often think that one reason why our land is
great and bo happy, is because the observance
of the Sabbath hen- is bo different from thai of
the continental countries. I am sun- a gnat
blessing n Bta on the remembrance of the Sabbath
both in countries and on individuals. I should
bk.- to have " ritten up in every house, ' Remember
q
226 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy/ One of the
greatest charges, you will remember, against the
Jews was, that they neglected this commandment.
The Sabbath was given for a sign between God
and man, and I do believe by this sign, His people
will be truly known."
" But, don't you make a Jewish Sabbath of it V*
said Ferrers, raising his eyes.
" 1 think not," answered Louis. " The Jews'
was a strict outward observance, but the Christians'
is more, though not so strict in that which makes
it a bondage. We do not forget that the Sabbath
was made for man, but yet not for man to abuse ;
for man to pause in his worldly business ; for man
to commune with his Maker, to meditate on His
"Word, to partake of the bread of life, and to deal
it to those who are perishing. The blessing of
this precious day can only be known in Eternity."
Ferrers did not show any sympathy with his
friend's earnestness, and Louis felt there was none.
He did not like to ask him how his own Sundays
were spent, but he could very well form an esti-
mate, from the manner in which some of his
studious acquaintances passed their time ; some
of the more serious deluding themselves with the
idea that getting up the Greek Testament, reading
Butler's Analogy and Sermons, and Paley's Evi-
dences, and searching for the authorities cited,
was a very laudable and proper manner of passing
the day.
" I cannot see it quite as you do," said
DASHWOOD PRIOIIY. 227
Ferrers : " ' "We arc not under the law, but under
grace.' "
" ' Shall we then sin, that grace may abound V"
eagerly interrupted Louis. " That very reason,
Ferrers ; that very reason will make a grateful heart
more fearful of offending the tender Giver of all
grace. It is quite impossible that a true child of
God can wilfully disregard the Sabbath. It will
be to him a 'delight/ 'the holy of the Lord/
' honourable/ though, alas ! he is too often sore let
and hindered by his evil nature"
" Still, you regard it as a command that will
be rewarded or punished," said Ferrers. " And
did notour Saviour bring in a new dispensation?"
" ' He came not to destrov the law, but to fulfil
it/ " replied Louis. " He abrogated the law us b
means of salvation, because man could not save
himself by keeping it. So He kept it Himself, and
bore man's punishment for the broken law, that
whoever believed in the finished work done for
1 1 iin may be saved ; and then when this faith comes,
he will follow the steps of his blessed Master, and
endeavour to keep the law as strictly as his im-
• nature allows him; as devoutly ami fear-
fully as it' his salvation depended on it; and I say,
Ferrers, he is not a child of God without that
deavour to keep I lis commandment >."
"FearfitUy?" repeated Ferrers. "Is not that
against your own creed f ' He that leanth is not
made perfect in love/ Mortimer."
• Ah, that is the spirit of bondage which I
228 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
have who vainly think heaven is to be won by-
good works ; the spirit of the truth-seeker who has
not yet received the spirit of adoption, whereby
we call God our Father, and lean upon Him as a
little obedient child, who would not willingly
neglect any command but through the weakness
and forgetfulness attendant on childhood often
falls short ; yet the father loves him, and the child
has no dread of his parent. But what I mean by
fearfully endeavouring to keep God's commands
is, that having received this grace, feeling and
knowing truly the stupendous gifts bestowed, we
are fearful of bringing reproach on Him ; we are
fearful lest His face should be turned away, even
for a time ; we are anxious to show that the grace
of God has not been given us in vain. It is not
because we can save ourselves, that Ave are to work
out our salvation with fear and trembling, but
because the great and mighty God so graciously
works in us to will and to do, of His good plea-
sure."
"I really cannot exactly understand how you
mix up faith and works in the manner you do/'
said Ferrers, abruptly.
" It seems to me as clear as noon-day/' rejoined
Louis, quietly. " We are saved by faith, which is
the gift of God; and this faith must inevitably
work by love. Works have not the smallest share
in our salvation, and vet we arc not Christians
without them. The tree is known bv its fruits —
the Christian is known by his works."
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 229
" And yet you talk of rewards and promises."
•• And so I do. There are many rewards and
many promises for duties commanded, but not
salvation. In the text we have just read is one
reward. To me it is a great ove, and so it will be
to every one who sincerely desires to rejoice in the
Lord. My dear Ferrers, you were speaking just
now of the abrogation of the law by the Lord's
death : so far from making it void, He goes deeper
than Moses. A sinful thought in the Gospel is
the transgression of the law, and surely, difficult
; - we are in persuasion of our utter sinfulness,
we must all plead guilty to many sins of thought.
Our Lord says, ' Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven ; but whosoever shall do and teach them,
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. ' But I know God must teach us all these
things, they will all seem clear then j but do try
to remember the Sabbath, Ferrers, and sec how
much more God will teach you. I am sure
nothing is gained even in worldly concerns by
breaking the Sabbath; and think what you owe
Him for the position you so much desired. [s
it not ungrateful to Blight any known com-
Ferrers made no reply, and Louis, overcome by
his own feelings, remained silent for some time,
till his eyes fell on lu> open watch, which lay on
the table, and seeing it. was nearer the time
230 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
of afternoon service at the church than he thought,
he rose, threw on his out-door accoutrements, and
sallied forth with his friend to St. Mary's.
Louis was claimed after Hall by his friend
Hamilton, and the evening was spent quietly and
soberly in his friend's lodgings.
-^JH£g**S^Sk&>^~-
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 231
CHAPTER XVI.
" Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth."
Henry IV., Second Part.
Time rolled on : the long wished-for vacation
arrived and passed; and another, and another.
Hamilton, though inflexible at Christmas, yielded
at last to Louis' persuasions, and passed part of
the "long" at Dashwood Priory, where he made
himself an universal favourite, and won golden
opinions from Mrs. Colthrop, who many times
expressed her satisfaction that " Master Louis had
so solid a young gentleman to tutor him."
Louis' difficulties respecting the demonstration
of his principles were now over. He belonged to
the studious, upon whose sacred time the riotous
dared OOl intrude; of the latter, indeed, he saw
but little, except now and then at his cousin's
rooms; but Prank's set, though idle, were not of
the want, and his own condud was generally
nlv, as respects college rules. He never
miss. (1 chapel, OX lectures; rarely had late partus
at his rooms, and had on no occasion been out
beyond hours.
23.2 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Frank's love for the ludicrous had by no means
forsaken him, though for some time he seemed to
have sufficient sense to take warning by the situa-
tion in which it had already placed him, and con-
fined its exhibition to his private friends, and to
drawing exact caricatures of the dons, with whom,
nevertheless, he was a general favourite. We
have already introduced our readers to one of the
Fellows, by name Mr. Royston, the mathematical
tutor. Mr. Royston was a very inviting subject
for Frank's powers of imitation; and, xeve the
truth told, this goodnatured and excellent, though
eccentric man, was often quizzed by his facetious
pupil. But though fully cognizant of the fact,
Mr. Royston — who had, be it known, a keen
sense of dry humour — never heard his own voice
Avhen Frank spoke in it, nor ever saw the multi-
plied sketches of his profile which adorned the
scraps of paper occasionally left in the lecture -
room, though his small twinkling eyes had often
watched, with intense amusement, the seven
scratches that traced it on the handiest surface
near, — the operation being sometimes performed
with the seal end of a pencil-case on the green
tablecloth, with an exactitude that greatly
charmed his fellow-students; nor, to the slight
discomfiture of the artist, did he take the faintest
notice of his full-length portrait traced with a
finger on the damp wall one morning, exactly in
the light Avhich met his eyes where he sat.
How it was, we do not mean to guess; but
DASHWOOD PRIOUY. 233
Frank seemed to have carried the old man's heart
by storm. He watched over him with a paternal
care, often inviting him to his rooms, stimulating
his studies ; and when Frank changed his apart-
ats, interested himself to get him a desirable
. in immediate contiguity to his own ; for which
last favour Frank was very ungrateful, as he Mas
obliged to be so quiet. However, when there was
a little extra noise, Mr. Royston always seemed
deaf, and generally invited Frank to breakfast the
D( \t morning, to hear the history of the previous
ev< ning^s exploit. Frank, to do him justice, was
not wholly insensible to the kindness of the "old
bay" as he irreverently designated him, and was
always ready to perform any little service for him
that did not interfere too conspicuously with any
of his own pursuits.
We have already said that Mr. Royston was
entric, and one of his eccentricities annoved
ik and some of his fellow students. He
would persist in wearing a very old coat, some-
thing between a great coat and a surtout, which
had once been handsome, and for which he still
sed an immense affection, because it had
been expensive, and was very convenient as a
kettle-holder and pen-wiper; and not confining
the exhibition of the worn-out habiliment to bis
own domicile, be further exasperated his pupils
by onally taking a turn in the cloisters on a
• lay. Many of the offended had at different
times vowed vengeance on this coal . but none
23 1< DASHWOOD PRIORY.
had yet discovered a way of carrying the threat
into execution, when the bright wits of Frank
Digby, Esq., hit upon a plan, which he was not
long in communicating to those among his friends
who were occasionally favoured with invitations
to Mr. Eoyston's rooms. Frank had discovered
that the doomed coat, when not in use, always
hung behind a green curtain, in a recess in the
outer room ; and, bent upon his scheme, it was not
long before he and his accomplices found means
for its prosecution. Their operations consisted,
on every available opportunity, of carefully cut-
ting two threads from the skirt all the way round,
which in consequence insensibly diminished in
length in the course of time. Opportunities being
often few and far between, three terms and one
long vacation passed before the habit began to
shrink to any sensible degree ; and the first full
intimation the owner had of the scarcity of his
tails, was on an occasion public enough and
ludicrous enough to satisfy the revenge of the
mischievous plotters, though the principal actor
in the " fun " afterwards acknowledged it was too
bad ; but we will let our tale tell its own moral.
Mr. Royston was possessed of much mathema-
tical talent, and withal that strong mechanical
taste which is not unfrequently joined thereto.
In his earlier career he had made it the recreation
of some years to construct a telescope, an elec-
trical machine, and air-pump, of no mean preten-
sions ; and having found, to his great satisfaction,
DASHWOOD PltlOKY.
that his protigi was capable of appreciating their
value and uses, they were occasionally drawn upon
for part of an evening's entertainment. One
evening, as they were replacing the electrical
machine behind a large green curtain, drawn
across a recess near the outer door of the outer
room, Mr. ftovston made a little remark on the
shabbincss of the framework, particularly point-
ing to Frank's notice a recent fracture in one
corner of the stand, which he had just mended
with a patch of deal.
•It wants painting afresh : it ought to have
been mahogany," he said.
Frank agreed, and expressed his surprise that
anv other wood should have been chosen for the
frame; and Mr. lloyston laughingly pleaded the
softness of the wood for amateur hands. " It is
an idle excuse," he added ; and then, after expa-
tiating a little on his skill of vore in the mysteries
of carpentering, the apparatus was restored to its
niche, and Frank having offered his services, if
required, took his leave, with an assurance from
the gentleman that they should be demanded on
the first opportunity.
One winter evening, a few days after the above-
mentioned visit, Frank was alone in his room,
lie had wheeled his table to within almost a
scorching contiguity with the fire, and sitting on
a chair at its head, his feet resting on the claw,
he pored listlessly over a Copy of the Bthics 'if
istotle, Looking now and then most idly into a
23G DASHWOOD PRIOltY.
lexicon at his elbow. Presently lie jumped up,
stirred the fire into a blaze, and sitting on the
edge of the table looked at it for a few seconds,
then at his watch, and finally threw himself anew
into his chair Avith a loud yawn.
" It's dry work," he said, aloud ; " I must talk
to myself for company. I wonder what business
Cox has to sport his oak to-night. How studious
all the fellows have become \"
He read a few minutes longer, and then leaned
back again in his chair, to recover from his
fatigues.
" I wonder what business composition-candles
have with long snuffs ; that puts me in mind of
the old class-room."
Then another long yawn, concluded with, —
" I wish Pickwick were new. "What did Ford
mean by running off with the third volume of
that book ? I wasn't made for a brother of La
Trappe."
Another yawn, and Frank shoved both hands
into his pockets, and gazed with watery eyes on
the ceiling.
" Wonder Avhat Louis is about. I won't plague
myself about that." Then an idle smile. " I
wonder when the old boy is going to paint his
machine. I dare say he'll want me when — Eh ?
come in."
His soliloquy was cut short by the entrance of
his old friend.
" Mr. Digby, are you very busy to-night ? Ah,
DAS II WOOD PIUORY. 237
I sec, very busy. It's a pity to disturb your
studies ; another night will do."
" I have quite done for to-night, sir," said
Frank, answering the twinkle of the old gentle-
man's eye with another as dry.
"Anything I can do, sir? Have you got the
paint ? I was just thinking about the machine."
"Well then, the machine's the business; so
you come in when you have left all safe, if you
have quite done, and we'll commence."
" I'll be with you in a minute, sir," replied
Frank, flying to open the door, and then coming
back to shove his table and chair to a safe distance
from the fire.
" Bravo ! " he said ; " verv well done. I wonder
the old bov doesn't see how short his toga is
getting ! that which comes gradually upon us we
don't feel any inconvenience, as Aunt Huntlcv
* * »
Baid of lather's large family."
He blew out the candles, and packing up the
fire to last till his return, hurried to the tutor's
rooms, where he found arrangements had be
made on a grand scale for the projected business.
An old cloth had been laid on the large table in
the outer room, and on this was placed the shabby
machine. On a chair near the lire was a kind
cabinet, not unlike a medicine-chest, with labelled
drawers and bottles; and an iron saucepan, war-
ranted to hold a pint and a half, Btood on the fl i
near. One or two Large white gallipots, a sauc
and two half-pint bottles, one containing 1 oseed-
238 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
oil and the other turpentine, stood by the machine,
on the large table ; and a mixing-knife, a couple
of new brushes, and a teaspoon completed the
tableau.
Prepared as Frank was for paint-pots and
brushes, he was at a loss to understand the
meaning of these symptoms ; and it was not till
informed by Mr. Royston, that he understood
that they were not only to paint, but to make
their own materials.
" I am not very fond of the smell of paint,
Mr. Digby. And then, you see, we can make
our own quantity; and not have the wasted
residue hardening on the sides of the pots, till
pots and all must be thrown away."
Frank expressed his great willingness to assist,
and, with an air of urgent importance, began to
handle the bottles and saucepan, *with a great
clatter and an inward sense of helpless ignorance
as to their uses. His coadjutor stood looking at
him with the most perfect gravity, till Frank,
having carried the saucepan to the fire, and placed
two gallipots and the bottle of oil on the mantel-
piece, stood still and looked at him. Their eyes
met.
"Well, sir?" said the tutor; "very well done.
Now we had better lose no time."
Frank coloured with suppressed laughter, but
answered almost immediately, —
" It's your turn now, sir."
Mr. Eoyston brought two more gallipots with
DASHWOOD PBIOBY.
three ])aper packets from the chest, and placed
them by Frank's trophies with the utmost
iidity, and then stood still once more. Frank
fairly laughed now.
" Umph ! Mr. Frank," said the gentleman, who
often dropped Frank's surname when aloue with
pupil ; " our work won't go on very fast at
that rate, and the pan, perhaps, will get burnt, so
close to that great coal. Suppose you begin."
3 appose I hold the saucepan while you mix,"
said Frank.
Mr. Koyston shook his head and muttered
something to hi. as he went again to the
medicine-chest and took out another paper.
" "Well, Mr. Frank, we shall have to mix some
white lead in this saucer."
■■ Yes, sir; here is the turpentine," replied
Frank, with an indistinct recollection of the scent
of turpentine connected with house-painting.
"Come, come," said Mr. lloyston; "pretty
paint I should have, if you were mixer, I see."
He hastily laid the Avhite lead on a chair, aud
loved the Baucepan.
•' Iron will burn, Mr. Digby."
" What's to be done, tlien ?" asked Frank.
" Are you going to mix up all the contents ol
those papers with the oil?"
" Ay, ay ; please to put them down," exclaimed
the old man. "The first thing is to boil the
oil."
'Then here goes," said Frank, emptying the
240 dashwood priory.
oil into the pan. " Now then, does some turpen-
tine go with it?"
" I shall have some mischief done ! " exclaimed
Mr. Royston, running away a few feet from
Frank, who threatened to mingle the contents of
the oil and turpentine hottles. Nothing but oil ;
now you do as you are bid, sir. Now you see,"
he added, as he took the turpentine from Frank's
hand, placed it on another chair, and then put the
saucepan on the lire : " The white-lead is to be
mixed with oil, but we must boil the oil first, or
the paint will never dry."
" Is it to be painted white ? " asked Frank.
"White! — no; white-lead is the foundation;
we must mix that with everv and anv colour you
want. We shall mix it with the yellow-ochre in
this instance."
" It is to be satin-wood ingrained, then ?" sug-
gested Frank.
A little grunt from Mr. Rovston was the onlv
answer, and Frank read aloud the names written
on the papers on the mantelpiece.
" Yellow-ochre, Vandyke-brown, rose-pink, red-
lead."
"It will look very handsome, won't it?" re-
marked Mr. Royston.
" Fm in a hurry to get to the brushing," said
Frank, nearly poking his head into the chimney-
to look at the oil. He drew it back, as Mv.
Royston called out, —
" Come, now, we must have some red-lead in
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 2 I 1
tlio oil ; that's the paper near you, Mr. Frank ;
there's a teaspoon on the table. Now then/' lie
continued, as Frank brought it; "a few teaspoon-
a of that. — not the whole quarter of a pound."
• I think 1 did that cleverly," said Prank.
• What is the use of that?"
" To assist in the drying process. There, we
shan't want any more of that paper just now; put
it down anywhere, — on that chair. Mustn't mix
the papers, it would spoil our ingrained mahogany,
eh ? Never mind holding the saucepan ; it won't
boil over just yet; it absorbs a great deal of latent
heat."
"While the gentlemen stood awaiting the oil's
pleasure, Mr. Royston described to Frank the
process of mixing the paint ; and they had passed
wry successfully through the lead and vcllow
ochre to the turpentine, when a knock at the door
(list tirbed the train of their ideas, and almost upon
the knock a stout elderly gentleman marched in,
buttoned up to the chin.
"Eh, Royston!" he exclaimed, in a hearty
voice, " still at the old story. Ah ! — ' Spirits red
and spirit- grey/ mingling "
• I lnph ! — why — >o it is," rejoined the tutor,
alter a keen, quick look.
Then followed a hearty shaking of hands, and
a few more equally hearty words between the
apparently old friends. Frank was doubtful about
the propriety of remaining; bul the oil kept him
still at his post, when .Mr. Etoyston, in bis great
242 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
zeal to clear a chair for Lis visitor, seized the end
of the red-lead paper, and scattered its contents
on the seat; and Prank darted forward, hand-
kerchief in hand, to remedy the accident.
" No, — no handkerchief ; it's poison," cried
Mr. Royston ; " here's a piece of paper ; clear the
other chair, or bring another up, will you?"
But while Prank was accomplishing this, Mr.
Royston darted to the fire with an exclamation,
seizing hold of the handle of the saucepan ; but
the length of time it had been on the fire had
heated it to an uncomfortable temperature, and
he had recourse to his coat-tails, now, alas ! too
short to perform their wonted office. He puffed,
and endeavoured vainly to pull them round suffi-
ciently to shield the whole of his hand. The fire
had caught the oil.
" Ay, Digby ! the chimney 's on fire ! — ay ! "
Prank's hands were full. A glance revealed
the state of things, and the glance instantly deter-
mined his course of action. Throwing bottle and
papers on the table, he rushed out of the room to
one or two of his nearest friends, amongst whom
was Louis.
" Your brown Georges ! — water-jugs ahoy ! —
The tutor's chimney 's on fire, Louis ; bring a
blanket and your water-jug. Mr. Royston's
room's on fire ; the college will be burned down !
Come, quick ! "
The summons was instantly obeyed by all,
Louis believing the danger implicitly, — as did one
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 243
or two others ; and they who suspected a joke
followed not less readily, and arrived en masse,
just as Mr. Royston, in despair between his hands
and the real danger that threatened the chimney,
was running away with the saucepan behind him,
having turned his back, to the fire, and taken hold
of the heated handle as he best might. It was not
done too soon : ill quantity of the boiling
oil had reached the fire, and a furious and alarm-
ing blaze was roaring up the chimney, while the
rest of the inflammable fluid, blazing brilliantly
behind the tutor, was running over on the carpet,
threatening to scald severely the feet of the un-
successful experimenter. This apparition of the
strange flying meteor was more than those among
Frank's friends who Avere in the secret could
stand, and they rushed precipitately out of the
room. Frank alone, with an unmoved counte-
nance, advanced and emptied his jug on the fire.
Poor Mr. Royston did not seem to know exactly
what to do with his saucepan, and the blazing
state of its overflowing contents deterred his friend
from offering assistance at first. Frank Mas the
first to approach him; but the tutor, abruptly
rejecting his assistance, turned round to face the
intruders, while the new comer, venturing to
release him from the nearly emptied | in, turned
it upside-down on Prank's In-own jug.
All this passed more rapidly than pen could
describe; and .Mr. Royston being al length at
liberty to apeak, meed poor Louis, the only <>no
244 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
of the party now remaining, who Avas standing
with blanket extended in both hands, looking on
in undisguised vexation.
" Hev-dav, voung gentlemen ! and what mav
you want, if you please ? "
"The chimney, sir, — the chimney, sir, — you
said the chimney was on fire," said Frank, mo-
destly ; " there was no time to lose."
Mr. Rovston looked verv hard at Frank, with
lips tightly compressed.
" I am very sorry, sir," said Louis ; " I believed
it was very urgent, sir."
"And I believe you, Mr. Mortimer," said Mr.
Rovston, kindly ; " but we don't need the blanket,
thank you."
Louis retired, and Frank, placing the saucepan
inside the fender, began to rake out some of the
blackened ashes.
"Thank you, Mr. Digby, that will do," said
Mr. Royston, politely.
Frank took the hint, and withdrew to laugh
with his friends, and the gentlemen were left
alone.
" Well," said Mr. Royston, seating himself;
"it's a failure. I think the best thing I can do,
will be to clear away, and send for another pot of
paint some day, ready made."
He rubbed his burnt hands, and looked ruefully
at the fire, now slowly recovering from the deluge
of water Frank had poured on it, and then his
eyes met his friend's, and by mutual consent they
DASHWOOD PBIORT. 245
burst into a roar of laughter, no less hearty than
that of the authors of the misfortune. Mr.
Royston laughed on for several minutes, and then
wiping his eyes, as if a sudden thought had struck
him, he began to examine his coat, and after a care-
ful survey looked up again, with a very significant
• I Imph — well, it was very shabby."
"There is something more underneath," said
his friend inquiringly.
"I suspect so," replied the tutor. "A little
accident to-night has let jnc into the secret of this
ir. Pretending to help, indeed — that young
mp with the nice face and dark wavy hair, who
drowned my tire, is at the bottom of it. My old
coat gave great offence, I know ; but he's the only
one that could get hold of it. Umph, Mr. Digby,
1 am afraid you are incorrigible."
" I believe you are not burnt. You have been
aerry I forgot that/' said his friend.
■• Xo, thank you. The saucepan handle was a
little hot, but that will go off in an hour or so.
But seriously, this is not a little escape. Sonic of
us -night have been worse off. I thank God no
hurt is don
lie remained reverentially Bilent for a
mim ■■. hen his friend asked, —
"But what has that young fellow been doing,
imething to your cat, I tides bringing all
his friends into the row ': "
"Why, he has been cutting my coal shorter,
somehow. It must have been very gradually. 1
*
246 DASHAVOOD PRIORY.
fancied it used to be longer this very evening — it
certainly used to come down to here. I warrant I
can find out. I know enough to tax him with it —
and my servant will soon get the rights of it."
" I hope he will," said the gentleman, rather
sternly. " It is a sad piece of disrespect, that
ought not to be passed over. He deserves to
feel it."
" Umph ! " said the old man. " I might do
him an ill turn perhaps, some day ; I might bring
a few old tales to bear ; and I might perhaps get
him rusticated ; but where would be the good, sir ?
Ah, Jenkins ; young spirits will soon go — I won't
sadden them. Let him do as he likes. I'll have
him yet. He has a kind heart, and never plays
his pranks when he fancies I have anything like
a headache. Poor fellow ! He'll repent it yet,
or I don't know him."
" It is a happy thing for him," said his friend,
" that he has fallen into such tender hands."
" It is, perhaps," said Mr. Eoyston, with a little
grunt. " Well, sir, time 's very short. We have
very little of it to show kindnesses to one another —
and he'll remember a kindness long after the queer
old boy 's head's laid low."
dashwood rmoRY. 247
CHAPTER XYII.
" He that believeth shall not make haste." — Is. xxviii. 16.
• Who hatli despised the day of small things?" — Zech. iv. 10.
Louis, now established a steady member of the
reading men of his college, and supported and
stimulated bv his friend and tutor Hamilton, bid
fair to pass through his university career very
creditablv, if not with any remarkable honours.
My readers will imagine that he passed his "little
go" very satisfactorily, notwithstanding his ner-
vous trepidation beforehand. A little before this
event took place, while the young tutor was look-
ing over a translation of his pupil's from a chorus
in Antigone, after Louis had been standing for
the twentieth time a cross-examination on Euclid
and "Whatelcy's Logic, he suddenly rose from his
chair, paper in hand, and laying it on the mantel-
piece, studied it attentively for a few minutes, then
stirring the fire with a decision and rapidity
which Louis knew betokened the coming delivery
of a weighty opinion, turned round, gathered up
his coat-tails, and commenced as if his mind were
filled with an idea.
" Louis ! "
"Yes; what is [\ J Sou disapprove of that
248 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
beautiful poetical effusion, as sober Mr. Phillips
used of my odes, plain matter-of-fact Hamilton/'
said Louis, smiling. " Well, never mind ; I will
give you some very staid prose next time."
" You are a bad guesser," said Hamilton,
smiling in his turn. " I am afraid the reaction
will be too great, if I tell you what I was think-
ing of: I had better be silent."
" Nay, now," said Louis, " if it be praise, make
me happy."
A flush of pleasure, like an old school look,
passed over Hamilton's face. He paused a minute,
and advancing a step or two, he laid the paper on
the table.
"That chorus, Louis," he said, emphatically,
" is not only tolerable, it is beautiful ; and I am
a fastidious judge."
" My dear Hamilton," said Louis, in a tone of
incredulity and expostulation.
" I am not joking," said Hamilton. " Were
I to give that to any judge of poetry, he would
say the same, depend upon it."
Louis looked still rather incredulous, and Ha-
milton continued —
" Now you may believe me, Louis ; I am not
too partial to you ; I scold you enough, you know,
and laugh at you too, and have done so for so
many years, that I am afraid I shall to the end of
the chapter."
"And you are laughing now, perhaps," said
Louis.
DASIIMOOD I'lUOKY. 2 l!>
•• Y\ ell, if you will be so very modest and si
tical, I cannot help it/' replied Hamilton; "but
I mean what I have said. It is not perfectly
faultless, as I will presently show ; but let me tell
you, there arc not many men in Oxford who could
write an off-hand translation in this stvlc. I always
considered you possessed of no little poetical taste
i.i olden times. Now the principal fault in this i^
a little too much liberty with the subject; you have
introduced too much extemporaneous matter, but
that, in an original poem, would be of no conse-
quence, and the upshot of my beginning is, that
I would strongly advise vou to try for the Newdi-
gate. Believe me, you arc likely to stand a very
t'air chance for it."
" My dear Hamilton ! " exclaimed Louis
again.
"Try," replied Hamilton. "I Mill be judge
quietly; ami we can but condemn in private, if it
should seem insignificant. What docs the Italian
proverb say, Louis? 'lie- Mho Mould be pope.
must take it strongly into his head, and he shall
be pope.' You bring me the outline of your
proposed plan of operation; and let us discus
capabilitie
" I shall not mind trying," said Louis ; " but I
cannot hope for much. I believe 1 could not
persuade mys< li' I should succeed. What is the
Subject fin' this year '.'"
'•Nebuchadnezzar's first dream. — the g,
imi OSWered Hamilton.
250 dasihvood priory.
" That will be delightful/' said Louis ; but his
countenance grew very thoughtful.
" Hamilton, you have always humoured me and
advised me in everything ; I want — "
" What? a little advice now?" asked Hamilton.
" You know, Hamilton, you go on stirring me
up, telling me constantly I must try for honours,
and here I am just trembling about these tremen-
dous responsions ; and I am so absorbed in syllo-
gisms, and axioms, and Q. E. D.'s, and all the
host of small things, that really I don't know
what it will be when I have to dive more deeply
into these matters."
Hamilton smiled.
" Why, Louis, you do not know how graduaily
you are now learning to dive into deeper matters ;
you will soon find that your regular study is
telling more than you have any idea of. My rule
always was, — Never leave till to-morrow what may
be done to-dav: and I have made vou do the
same. There will be hard work at last, undoubt-
edly ; but never fear that if you keep steadily up
to the mark from this time forward, you may and
will succeed at the end. The fact is, if men chose
to work steadilv, we should have many more first
and second class men. They often come up, as
some quaint old writer observes, golden scholars,
and turn out silver students, from want of that
industry which a principle of right inspires, which
would easily confirm what they have acquired
with so much labour and expense, for the greatest
DASIUVOOD FBIOBY. 251
part of their lives. I get quite chafed sometimes,
when I see the prodigal waste of time, youth,
strength, talents, and of those golden opportu-
nities here offered, which will never return. It is
not so much genius as perseverance that is wanted.
Genina can accomplish nothing without perse-
verance, but perseverance may do much without
ring."
"I allow that, Hamilton; but suppose I do
succeed, what then?" and Louis looked very
steadily at his friend.
••What then!" repeated Hamilton. "I am
surprised to hear you ask, what then? Duty is
duty to a conscientious mind: 'what thens' we
do not trouble ourselves about."
"But why is it my dutv to gain honour-'"
: -ked Louis. " I can see it my duty to fit myself
for my office, but how will gaining honours assist
that, Hamilton ? I can pass without honours."
" Pats without honours! to be sure you can,"
said Hamilton, contemptuously. "Louis, I detest
that cry of cut bono? It seems to me either the
demand of a lazy tasteless fool, or a very blind
utilitarian."
"You are as vehement as if you could not
support your argument/ 1 said Louis.
"Support it," repeated Hamilton; "I do not
think I shall be inclined to take the trouble,
where it is self-evident: but why thia \.
round, Louis? Have you no ambition
•' More than you think, Hamilton," replied
252 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Louis, rather sadly : " so much, that I sometimes
fear. — You have not forgotten Vernon; he won
more honours than I could ever hope for with the
hardest labour, and what did he say, Hamilton ?
I remember how sadlv he said, ( Hoiv dieth the
ivise man ? even as the fool. Vanity of vanities,
all is vanity and vexation of spirit? "
Hamilton's eyes glistened at the mention of his
old friend, and he did not reply for a minute.
" It seems, Louis/' he said gravely, " that your
morbid imagination considers the attainment of
earthly honours an earthly sin, to be visited bv
some immediate judgment. Remember, the right
of an action depends upon the inciting motive.
What will be your motive ? I fancy it Avould not
be the mere distinction of being first, which,
indeed, you can hardly hope for."
" No ; yet, I don't know," said Louis : " I am
afraid that is the greatest motive."
" I do not think so," replied Hamilton, deci-
dedly ; " I know it ought not, nor ought it to be
merely that of obtaining a distant fellowship, or
such substantial emoluments as the university
holds out to her successful sons. If you think
your motive is mere love of distinction, throw
your books away, and see whether your conscience
will be perfectly satisfied with this immolation of
your talents to the desire of extinguishing this
feeling."
Louis stripped the feather from a pen, as he
thoughtfully considered his friend's remarks.
DASHWOOD FKIOKY. 27)Z
" Will you do that, Louis?"
" Why, 110, not exactly."
" But why not ? Have you not enough self-
denial?"
" I should not think it right, because my father
expects me to study ; at least, enough to take my
degree. And I could not disappoint him."
" Take your (/eyree ! Pshaw ! you come back
again arguing in a circle," said Hamilton impa-
tiently ; " your father expects you to make the
most of your time. Perhaps he does not delibe-
rately expect you to take honours, but he expects
you to work, — not to be idle ; and if you do less
than you can, it is idling. If vou do not use the
powers God has given you, in the situation in
which he has placed you, you are not doing your
duty: you are not doing mightily whatsoever
your hands find to do ; and, believe me, if you do
not read for honours, you Mill not have sufficient
occupation. You know you can go up to lecture
day after day with little or no preparation, and
surely, I need not remind you that the more
Learning you have, the more you will be fitted for
any sphere; and in your calling, you will in time
have to answer all kinds of objections, and refute
all denominations of arguments, not only among
the illiterate, but anion- those who will respect
your opinion little if you cannot boasl the Same
amount of refinement in education as themselves;
and the higher you are above such in attainments,
the more will your opinion have weight. In all
254 DASHWOOD PllIORY.
knowledge is profit, Louis/' said Hamilton, with
increasing animation : " and I am sure it is a
sin, a great sin, to make religion an excuse for
idleness."
"Nay, Hamilton."
" You don't think so, I know," continued
Hamilton steadily ; " but it is something like it.
As for Vernon, poor fellow, it was not study that
killed him, Louis; and if it had, should we be
justified in saying that no one else was ever to
study deeply again ? If a man knows he is injuring
his health bv over-studv,then it becomes a different
matter ; but till he does, let him do his utmost, as
unto God and not unto men. Do your work
diligently, and never mind whether you gain
honours or not."
" Then why stimulate me ? — why cannot I
study without the idea of trying for a first class ?"
" In the first place," said Hamilton, " you have
no right to despise the influence of example ; and
though vou mav not think yours of much weight
here, it may have a little in one or two cases,
which is worth while ; and, placing yourself among
the religious, you are bound to show yourself a
pattern of everything that is lovely and of good
report; and, again, you may fancy you would
make your bare duty a sufficient motive for work-
ing hard."
-o
" I hope so," said Louis, quickly.
"And yet, I think, without some kind of
standard by which you may measure yourself,
DA8HWOOD l'KIOKY.
how arc you to know that you have done as
much as you might, till you have measured your
»th with others? aud the remembrance that
this race is to come off, will keep you up to the
highest mark ; and you owe it to your friends and
tutors to give them all the gratification in your
power."
" Thank you, dear Hamilton/' said Louis,
"you good a lecturer as you used to be,
and I hope I shall profit as of old ; but I am afraid
you will be very impatient if I tell you any more
of my nic;
" Nay, I hope not unreasonably so," replied
Hamilton. " What is scruple number two ?"
Louis coloured, and ] came nearer his
friend, and leaning his elbow on the mantelpiece,
looked down thoughtfully, as if he knew not how
to begin. Hamilton did not press him, but stood
patiently with his back to the fire, awaiting his
friend's communication, which he began in a
itating, serious manner, as if it were much on
mind, and he was doubtful how it would be
received.
"Hamilton, why is it so nee y that we
should spend so much of our time in company
ii heathen writers, drinking in their religions
sentiments ami a remonies, till their very expres-
sions become our own? Why must clergymen
dy these thins ? Somi timi i 1 feel as though
I wore doing wrong in spending so much time in
reading these books, [have often thrown at
256 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Aristophanes in my own room from a kind of
fear ; and I am afraid I never shall be able to study
them to any purpose."
Louis spoke very feelingly, aud looked at
Hamilton as if he expected disapprobation; but
Hamilton's face only expressed a degree of irre-
solution. He cleared his throat two or three
times before he ventured to reply.
" I presume you will not dispute that you
ought to have a competent knowledge of the dead
languages ? " he said.
" Certainly not," replied Louis.
" That knowledge you cannot obtain but
through these works. Of course, you cannot
expect heathen authors to write Christian works,
and you must consider it a question of business,
not of heart. You feel no compunction in per-
fectins; vourself in Hebrew, and vou are as well
aware as I am, that a critical knowledge of Greek
is most essential. If there are anv writers that
distress your feelings particularly, you can give
them a more cursory inspection than others. I
cannot help thinking that you are in rather a
morbid state of conscientiousness. As to the
study of these, I do not pretend to account for
it j but it is a remarkable fact, that almost imme-
diately upon the revival of learning in Florence,
when Lorenzo the Magnificent established his
schools for the study of Plato, and drew all the
learned to court, — I say, almost coeval with this,
and the discovery of several rare Greek manu-
DASHWOOD PKIORY. 257
scripts, the glorious Reformation burst upon
uished Europe."
' God's time had come, Hamilton."
' It had, Louis, and He turned events to His
own great purposes. Perhaps this access of
knowledge, and study of philosophy, taught men
to think each one for himself, and made him more
bold to stand alone. It is a known fact, that
wherever Romanism is, there is ignorance and
darkness of the si description; and wher-
c learning goes, men in a measure throw off
the trammels of Rome. Mind, I do not say they
become sons of God, — that is afar different thing.
Hut why is it you never thought these studies
iig before?"
Louis did not at first reply. At length he
answered, thoughtfully, —
" Perhaps because I simply thought it right to
improve my time, and do as much as I could,
without any regard to the matter of mv studies.
But now I seem to be left more on my own
iponsibility, and in a great measure to choose
my own line of study, and it lias often struck me
ly. 1 am told to do all to the glory of God.
How can 1 imbue myself with heathen sentiments
to Ins glory ? The great work— His work, —
His glory, seems to be Losi in all I do here."
1 My dear Louis, you arc very much mistaken,
depend upon it," said Hamilton, throwing him-
••> If into a chair, and speaking rapidly ; •• yon are
takings irer narrow view of your present posi-
s
258 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
tion. I fancy you imagine that the only way of
glorifying God is by being constantly engaged in
preaching to others. You are not called upon to
do that now ; instead of that, you are to learn
what will qualify you for it afterwards. You
must look forward, and remember that you are
only preparing to begin life, and pursuing these
studies as a means to an end. Louis, why is it
that so many pious and judicious men send their
sons here, if these studies are so deleterious ? "
" That has often puzzled me/' said Louis.
" Why is it," continued Hamilton, speaking
rapidly, " that so many clear-headed pious men
are poured out of our universities year after year,
if all is evil there ? Depend upon it, humanly-
speaking, it is because each one is taught to think ;
because they insensibly learn, through the me-
dium of these very studies, to seize hold of all the
really necessary, and to reject the superabundant.
They learn to reason ; they see how far man's un-
aided intellect can guide him, and how necessary
the light of Revelation ; how continually men in
all ages arrive, to a certain distance, at. the same
conclusion, — but can go no further."
He paused, as Louis remarked, —
" Piety is something distinct from this."
" I grant it, Louis ; yet, in the long history of
the world's darkness, a long, painful, labouring
process has always preceded the dawn of light.
We cannot understand why it was necessary that
the whole world should be left, with the exception
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 259
of one nation, in gross darkness and ignorance
for four thousand years ; yet it was so. Why v, as
it that Moses, destined for his high office, v
educated in a heathen land, made learned in the
wisdom of the Egyptians, and passed eighty years
in obscurity before he was deemed ready ? The
conflict seemed necessary. And to leave other
ranees, and to come still further on, Louis; you
want to preach, to instruct, before your time. The
holy child Jesus, whose learning of twelve years
of age made Ilirn the wonder of sages and doctors,
— who yearned to ' be about His Father's business,'
tared into obscurity; and till He began to be
about thirty years of age, He taught us in tl
meek Mibmission to a conflict, which in His own
ould not need, that before every great
work, is a time of longer preparation and patient
waiting. Before manhood, comes childhood. Why
i> it that the embryo man should be allowed to
. large a portion of his life in folly ? — for
we are told childhood and youth arc folly. God
in need of instruments to do His own work,
am! till the time cornea in His own providence, it
rcMimption to think we Can iind out a la t
:■ ourselves. We must be content bo d i
and be nothing when lie chooses
shall be nothing and do nothing, and quietly
prepare ourselves for the time whu □ lie shall find
work t 1 am persuaded that half the errors
matjeism arise from weak-minded men fancy-
.IV called to some great work without
s 2
2G0 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
preparatory knowledge, forgetting that miraculous
gifts of language and immediate revelation have
long ended, and that it is not apparently the
Almighty's will that man should become suddenly
and supernaturnlly fitted for this greatest of offices.
You must not 'despise the day of small things/
Louis. We would all rather that knowledge and
fitness should come intuitively; but the conflict
and discipline of labour is necessary — man is
destined to it; and to me there is something
delightful in the power bestowed on us of attain-
ing to something by our own efforts. In some
things, indeed, our strength is to sit still, but in
most the Lord speaks to His people to go forward.
Here, on this earth, Louis, goes on the constant
chipping of the stones for the temple above ; the
rest will be in the land bevond, where each
polished stone shall be silently laid when the
necessary painful toil is over; and the building
goes gradually on; stone after stone is carried
above ; and none that is placed there, Louis, thinks
the conflict on earth too great/'
" Oh, Hamilton ! " exclaimed Louis, warmly ;
" oh, for that time when ' the headstone shall
be brought with shoutings/ "
" Ay, but Louis," rejoined Hamilton, with a
quiet, sweet smile ; " but you remember, ' he that
helieveth shall not make haste.' "
There was a dead silence, and Louis looked up
once or twice at his friend, but showed no incli-
nation to break it. Hamilton sat with his eves
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 'JG1
intently fixed on the ground in profound thought,
till Louis sighed, when lie raised them to his
pupil's face with a look of inquiry.
"• My dear Hamilton, I cannot tell vou how
verv sweetly the "Word of God comes from vou,
specially when vou get philosophical. I am
afraid vou will think it a great sism of weakness
in me, if I tell you what an aching sensation I
always experience whenever I hear anything ap-
proaching to a philosophical disquisition on the
i rigin of evil, and the reasons why the world was
Buffered to lie so long in darkness, and the great
good to he learned by the history of this or that
heathen nation, as I have often heard here. No-
thing ever seems satisfactorily proved to my mind,
and what is advanced and pursued seems to mc
to run away from the Bible sadly. I assure vou
* WW
when you and Berry were arguing the other night
on SchlegePs ' Philosophy of History/ 1 began to
wonder whether I was awake or alive, whether
anything had ever existed, and whether there was
any harm in any wickedness that had ever been
perpetrated, and you were moderate compared
M<>n ton and Osborne. These things do not
suit me. If I heard much of them, I am afraid
I should almost become a sceptic, but for one
it safeguard. I know in my heart that the
Bible ii nun , and it is impossible to exprca i £h<
I recioOJ power of a passage from that dear book.
1 feel when you bring it forward as you do, you
will not mislead mc."
2C2 dashwood priory.
" Mislead you ! no, I hope not/' said Hamilton,
in a tone of surprise.
"Yet had you not spoken to me of Moses,
and above all of our Lord, I should not have
been satisfied, Hamilton, though I trust I am
now. When you spoke of the darkness of the
world, and the good to be gained by the con-
sideration of man's mind and its capabilities in all
ages, I was unconvinced ; but the rationale of
your view flashed across me as light, when you
spoke of the thirty years of His meek submission
to an earthly parent. Hamilton, what a friend
you are to me ; I wonder how I should get on
without you to set me straight."
" How, Louis ! you are forgetful to-day," said
Hamilton, gravely. " f My soul hangeth upon
Thee. Thy right hand hath upholden me.' Re-
member He is a nail in a sure place, and they
who are upholden by Him shall never fall/'
Louis was about to speak, but Hamilton con-
tinued without noticing his attempts, —
" You remember old Latimer. In his youth he
carefully searched and made up his mind on cer-
tain doubtful and disputed points, and having once
done this, he did not allow it to be disturbed by
conflicting opinions. Follow his example, asking
earnestly an Almighty blessing ; let your mind be
carefully made up, and then let no doubts disturb
your course of action. In my opinion, your course
is plain. With the system pursued for preparing
clergymen for their office, you have nothing to do ;
DAsllWOOD PHIORY. 2G3
you must pass through it, and with your princi-
ples you ought to go through in the best possible
manner. Look at Henry Kirke AYhite and Henry
Martyn — you may surely follow their examples;
and as a proof how a mind attuned to divine
things sees them in all, read again, if you have
read it before, Martyn's impressions on preparing
a portion of theJEneid, when appointed examiner.
I i need not fear, Louis. Do not distress your-
with scruples.'-' He paused a minute, as if
thinking, and then added, "I have a dear old
friend at home, Louis, with whom you would like
to talk. 1 am thinking now, if I had given you
some of her thoughts instead of my own, it might
have been still better. She would talk to you of
faith of Studying in whatever path your pecu-
liar power points out. She would ask you why
your impulses were given you, and who gave them,
and she would make you answer this question,
which 1 must leave vou now to answer bv vourself,
or to me when we have more time. The life of a
Christian is by faith. Is faith most exercised,
we can satisfactorily answer the why that
ip, or when we fulfil a duty without Beeing
any immediate result, or obtaining any persona]
'iiication therefrom? Bntwe nana! part now.
T<> your toilet. You do not know what time it
is. 1 1 alt — Hall, nu rrroir."
1. nii> hastilv bade his friend adieu, and hurried
When he was alone that evening, hi' made his
264 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
perplexities a subject for prayer; nor did he forget
the project Hamilton had set before him, in his
petitions, that he might be directed aright, and
might diligently use all his talents solely to the
glory of Him who had bestowed them, and who
has commanded us to cast all our care on Him,
for He careth not only for the great cares and
trials, which come seldom upon some men, but for
each little perplexity, each little anxiety, that
would draw the soul from its resting-place to
dependence upon itself. The language of each
Christian heart should be that of Moses, "If
Thy presence go not with us, carry us not up
hence." So Louis' breathed petition was, " If I
may not do this to Thy glory, take away the power
from me. Prosper not my handiwork, if it speak
not for Thee," and he rose from his prayer, re-
freshed and strengthened for his work.
A word in season, how good it is. Many times
did Louis' mind dwell happily on the remembrance
of the nail in the sure place — of Him of whom
he could say, " My soul hangeth upon Thee."
My soul hangeth upon Thee — hangeth upon
Thee ! ah, there is the Christian's safety : hang-
eth upon the sure anchor ; resteth upon the ever-
lasting rock ; and the waves of infidelity, of error,
superstition, and mysticism, may dash around and
overthrow the self-reliant, but He whose feet are
surely placed, shall never be moved. There is the
only security. He is the only refuge — the only
foundation. He whose soul hangeth upon Christ
DASH WOOD TRIORY. 265
shall be upholden with the right hand of Omni-
potence.
A few days after this conversation, Louis brought
Hamilton a slight plan of his poem, which after
many considerable deliberations on Hamilton's
rt, obtained his decided approval. And Louis,
now furnished with a very congenial employment,
worked away for the next few months very busily.
Kind, unwearied Hamilton, though studying for a
fellowship, and dividing his time among nine or
ten pupils, often spared his ancient proteye a half-
hour to criticise his production; and the work was
rapidly brought to a conclusion under the most
favourable auspices, and was duly sent in to the
j roper authorities to await the mighty decision.
2C6 DASHWO0D PRIORY,
CHAPTER XVIII.
" I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous —
Grievous complaints of you, which heing considered,
Have moved us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us."
King Henry VIII.
We must now be allowed to go backward to the
beginning of the last chapter, where it is stated
that our hero passed his " little go" with great
credit. One evening, a few days after this event, he
was alone in his rooms. His tea apparatus had not
been long removed, and he was deeply engaged with
his Bible and Keith's " Evidences of Prophecy,"
so wrapped up in his employment that he did not
hear two sharp little knocks at his door, and, in
consequence, was not a little startled by the appa-
rition of his cousin close to his elbow.
" Are you deaf or cataleptic this evening ? "
Louis started to his feet, and it was a second or
two before he comprehended the nature of the
interruption.
"What absorbs vou so much?" asked Frank,
as he took up the book that lay near him.
" Grote — hum ! Keith — ah, that's a book I
recommend to every one !"
"How, is it a favourite of yours?"
DASHWOOD PKIOHY. 2G7
" It is a favourite of Dr. Wilkinson's ; and as I
always place great dependence upon his judgment,
I cannot err."
" You take his word for it as regards yourself,
I --appose," remarked Louis.
"Just what I Bay" returned Frank. "But
now those fellows will pull down my apartments,
if I don't be quick on my errand. I have a party
of Jiwsicians at my rooms, quiet, steady fellows ;
and we've some new music to try, and — and
there's a piano accompaniment, and the long and
the short is, we want the loan of your piano, and
your fingers to play for us. Will you lend us
your room for to-night ? we'll be very good."
Louis hesitated a minute.
" Come now, you'll enjoy it yourself. Do you
know Purcell?"
" Xo, nothing, except a solitary anthem and a
chant."
"Then there's a treat for you. Come, you arc
too much of a hermit : there's nothing sinful in
music."
Well, on one condition I will," said Louis.
"Remember, I am very sedate, and enough of an
old woman not to like a noise. I stipulate for
early hours and no 'row.'"
"It's a thing I never do," said Frank, with a
flourish. "AY hat a timorous hare you are, to be
afraid of a set of quiet musical men."
Louis looked rather doubtfully at Frank, and
shook bis bead.
268 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
"What instruments, Frank?"
" A flute, two violins, et cetera."
" Well, as et cetera is coming, remember, honour
bright, Frank, you must not get up a row here,
nor stay after eleven."
" A thing I never do," said Frank.
" As to what you never do, Frank, remember
what a friend — "
"That's just what I say," interrupted Frank.
"I always was very accommodating myself: now
Fll order our spread in here — eh? what's that?
ah, Mr. Louis, you practise pistol-shooting, do
you?"
His quick roving eyes had lighted on a hand-
some pistol, which lay on the mantel-piece, and
he marched up to examine it more minutely.
" It's not mine," said Louis, quietly. " More-
ton left it here this morning, and I shall be very
glad when he calls for it. I have a morbid dis-
like of firearms, and I really don't know whether
it is loaded or not."
" Poor chicken !" said Frank. " But I mustn't
stay : prepare your quiet self in two minutes for
an irruption of the Huns."
" They were very remarkable for tranquillity,"
rejoined Louis, beginning to clear the table of the
books of reference with which it was crowded.
"Very," returned Frank. "Adieu. Fll be
with you * ere the leviathan can swim a league' "
Although Louis dearly loved music, and by no
means disliked the idea of a musical evening at
DASHWOOD PHIOKY. 269
any time, he was not altogether without appre-
hensions as to the character of Frank's party; nor
were his fears calmed -when his door was once
more violently flung open, and Ford marched in,
bearing a couple of candles, followed by half a
dozen more with music-books and instruments,
Mr. Halhed bringing up the rear with a violon-
cello. One or two of the incomers were speaking
acquaintances of Louis', and they performed the
ceremony of thanking him for the use of his
room. Frank, who had stayed behind to arrange
the "spread" with his scout, soon arrived and
introduced his unknown friends as Marsden, Hale,
Smith, Barton, and Cox, with an intimation,
something between a request and a command,
they would be pleased to know each other.
In spite of Louis' previous disinclination to the
introduction, he did the honours of his rooms with
a courtesy and elegance that won the musicians,
and they were soon gathered round the table, from
which Louis had removed all traces of his studies,
looking oyer the new music, which proved to be
an arrangement of some of the music of "King
Arthur," with a piano accompaniment, and a
chorus from " Boadicea."
•• We have been making a sad mess of them,"
1 Hall, "because the cornet-a-piston got bo
horridly nut."
The cornet-a-piston becoming fierce at this,
taliated upon the violins, and where the argu-
nt might have ended we do aoi Know, had on!
270 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Frank come to the rescue by declaring that all
were wrong, because they wanted a rallying-point.
" Then," exclaimed Ford, " Hall was taken up
so abominably with the title-pages."
" I deny it," exclaimed Hall.
" Why now, didn't you and Halhed get talking
in the bar's rests and when you ought to have
come in ? all we heard was, ' It's the Elizabethan.
No ; the Roman. I can prove it.' "
There was a hearty laugh.
" By the bye, Louis, did you ever see anything
like these letters ? " said Frank.
" They are singular," replied Louis ; " but I
have often seen printing of that description on
handbills."
" Do you know the origin of italics ? " asked
Ford : " I never found any one who did perfectly.
It's rather curious."
Louis having replied in the negative, Ford pro-
ceeded to enlighten him.
" When the renowned grandson of the Alban
king had thatched the first palaces in Rome, he
invented the Roman alphabet, in order that the
heads of his mud college might be able to prose-
cute their studies. Determined that everything
his people did should be upright and straight-
forward, the first alphabetical characters familiar
to the juvenility of Rome were of the plain up-
right description known to us as the Roman
alphabet. Afterwards, when his posterity began
to be a little less particular in their dealings, they
msmvooD PRIOET. '271
were ashamed that their letters should evince
more uprightness than themselves, and an ancient
writer in the reign of Claudius Caesar, quoting a
passage in one of the lost books of Livy, relates
that ji lawsuit was commenced between a bar-
barian md one of the richest merchants, because
the latter had written an upright letter to the
former, without even intending it as such. So
they invented italics for the purpose of informing
the public that they only intended to lean toward-
the right, and would not be answerable for conse-
quences at any time, should they fail in doing so."
\s tor the Elizabethan," added Frank, "it is
well known that her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,
being rather crooked in her dealings, wished her
despatches to be taken in the opposite sense to
that which she wrote them, or at all events, to b.
smbiguous that no one but herself could make
head Off tail out of them. Thereupon she caused
the alphabet bearing her name to be framed, to
the end that all the letters should look as much
like one another as possible."
And I t In nk she succeeded uncommonly well,"
rejoined Louis, laughing.
Pordj may I ask you what writer you spoke
of who quotes the lost decade of Li\y ':' as]
Halhed. " I should like to peruse his writings."
A hearty bunt of laughter followed the inquiry,
and Ford bavin- referred his friend to some un-
known nam. gested that the performance
mid be no longer delayed. Louis repaired I
~72 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
the piano, and after a proper amount of fanning
of leaves, and such queries as " Where am I to
begin ? Where do I come ? What key ; s this ?
How many blacks are there ? " and exclamations
from wind instruments, that the piano was too
low, and from the stringed that it was too high,
they at last commenced, Frank acting as conductor,
and two of his friends as audience. Louis' own
part at sight was as much as he could look after
at first ; but his performance was rapturously
applauded at the conclusion of " Britons strike
home;" and though each performer had been
tolerably independent, all were very well satisfied
with the noise except the conductor, who greatly
exasperated the players by declaring his unqualified
disapprobation of the whole. However, it is not
on such occasions that the beauty of the music
adds much to the enjoyment, and in the succeed-
ing efforts the party grew merrier and merrier,
and noisier and noisier, even Louis becoming a
little infected, and thoroughly enjoying the beau-
tiful music, which possessed all the charms of
novelty for him. As they had the words of two
choruses, they varied their entertainment by sing-
ing, and were in the height of the fun when the
supper appeared. Louis continued playing the
piano part of " Come if you dare," when Frank
whispered something to Ford, who went imme-
diately to the mantel-piece, and carefully examined
Louis' watch, which stood there in a rosewood
stand. Frank meantime waited at the piano till
DASHWOOD PKIORY. 273
a convenient pause, and then announced to Louis
that supper was ready.
" And I am quite ready," said Louis, jumping
up. ''Really this music is quite delightful."
Vnd you play so capitally," said Hall.
Really you are quite a genius."
"Now. Frank/' said Louis, putting his cousin
forward, " 1 have lent my rooms, and you are
host."
•■ Nay, I cannot think of taking the head of
another man's tahle," said Frank. " We are all
much obliged for your assistance, but I could not
be comfortable in taking that place."
"Come, Mortimer, be reasonable," cried several
voices ; " and don't oblige us to use force to our
host. No one sits down till you take your place."
Louis obeyed the unanimous call. As he drew
near the table, his guests were standing round,
and there was a little lull in the noise. It seemed
to invite what Louis' own heart dictated to him;
but a mistaken feeling of shame stayed his lips,
and even while lingering, ere he seated himself,
he could not openly acknowledge Him who crowns
tlie table of His creatures with plenty. A moment
more but a moment of irresolution, and the time
irai past, the noise returned, and the calls on the
hosl were uninterrupted, but his pleasure was
gone. With a Unking heart and listless ear he
beard the noisy jokes and bad puns, and scarcely
math' Bfl effort to appear interested in anything
that followed, only anxious for some opportunity
T
274) DASHWOOD PRIORY.
of repairing, if possible, Lis lukewarm omission.
He hardly knew how he divided the game before
him, or when he poured out the wine, which lie
took with some one at the further end of the
table, just putting the glass mechanically to his
lips, his only thought was, " I have denied Christ ;
I have been unwilling to acknowledge my prin-
ciples."
" Why, Mortimer, you are tired," said Ford.
" You played like a trooper. Glass of wine, to
keep up your spirits."
Others recommended this infallible panacea for
fatigue, and paid equally equivocal compliments
on his services. Then one remarked on the
"jollity" of the evening, and every failure and
success "was recapitulated, the nature of music,
and certain scraps of its history discussed, with
various anecdotes relative to the point. For
the wisdom of all we do not pretend to vouch.
Then one started a novel idea in defence of their
eccentric time : " That you only learn rules in
order to break them, according to taste."
" Like the yeomanry," said Frank. " As the
old woman said, ' Only look at the soldiers ! don't
they do it beautiful? pulling out their swords all
one after the other ! ' I maintain that time, strict
undeviating time, is the greatest requisite in music,
gentlemen."
"I defy time," exclaimed his adversary, from
the opposite side of the table. " I say melody,
taste."
DABHW00U PBIOBT. 275
" Feeling," cried another.
" Harmony," said a third.
,f Noise," remarked a fourth.
"Come; you're an oracle, a judge in musical
matters/' said Ford, turning the attention of the
company towards their important companion, who
Bat with a sententious face, listening as though
the other speakers were children.
*' Now, llalhcd, you're a judge," was the
general call ; but there was something so mis-
chievously expectant in the tone, that any one
less obtuse Mould have declined offering an opi-
nion on the knotty point. Mr. Ilalhed was not
quicksighted, however, and on being addressed,
he gathered himself up very portentously, and
replied, in a solemn, deliberate tone, —
" Demosthenes was once asked what was the
first requisite for an orator. He replied, 'Pro-
nunciation.' He was asked what was the second
requisite. He still replied, ' Pru-uuu-ci-a-tion. y
What was the third requisite, ' Pro-nun-ci-a-tion.'
So it 1 am asked what is the chief requisite in
concerted music, I reply, ' Unanimity.' If I am
asked what is the second requisite, I answer,
* U-iHi-ni-Hii-ti/.' What the third, ' U-na-ni-
MI-TV \">
Thil oration, delivered in a pompous and ex-
tremely solemn manner, was heard throughout
with the most profound attention, but was hardly
ended, when the room rang Bgain with peals of
laughter, intermingled with criea of "Encore! M
t 2
27G DASHWOOD PllIORY.
" Bravo ! " " You've hit the right nail on the head,
Halhed ! »
Ford patted Halhed ou the back encourag-
ingly, and told him he would be an orator before
his grandmother. " Unanimity 's the thing, that's
certain."
The orator's gratification was apparently doubt-
ful, for, after looking inquiringly from face to face,
he folded his arms, and sank gloomily back in his
chair with compressed lips, while Ford filled his
glass, and pressed him to drink after his exertions ;
and then, finding his efforts vain, he proposed Mr.
Peter Halhed's health in a bumper. Then Halhed
grew sulky, and would not return thanks, and the
noise waxed more furious, and the rebel to the
customs of society was dragged on his feet, in
spite of Louis' earnest remonstrance. He pos-
sessed, however, sufficient obstinacy to adhere to
his determination, and in great anger, on the first
convenient opportunity, took up his cap and left
the room, with a severe remark on the ungentle-
manly manner in which he had been treated.
Louis hoped that his departure might be a
signal for a break-up, but he was woefully mis-
taken, for they sat on and laughed at Halhed, and
told tales of him, and then sang songs and drank
wine so fast, that Louis began to be seriously
alarmed for the consequences. He tried to draw
Frank's attention; but Frank either would not
understand, or was not inclined to notice the hint.
At length, the vocalists having exhausted their
DASHWOOD PBIOBY. 277
Stock, Louis was called upon for his contribution,
having twice evaded the demand previously.
ink knocked on the table with the handle of
his knife to command silence.
Louis coloured, and rose.
"I beg to be excused, gentlemen."
" No excuses ! ** cried several voices.
Louis Btill remained standing.
" It is time we concluded our Bacchanalia."
" Cou^h him down."
And. accordingly, each guest was immediately
'•d with a violent fit of coughing.
When this had a little subsided, Louis cssaved
.- gain.
•• Prank, you are a man of honour; you know
my hours are early, and I cannot have this noise
. i v Longer here ; I am sure it must be nearly
twelve o'clock."
•Hear, hear!" cried Frank, "the man's de-
mented ; it's not so b x ' me."
"Nor by mc," said Ford. "lam afraid our
company has been dull, .Mortimer?"
Louis looked puzzled, and left the table to look
at his watch ; the hands pointed to twenty minutes
eleven; still he did not feci convinced. He
looked doubtfully at the party, and then quietl\
said, —
r I think there DHLS! lie some mistake; I will
inquire of one of my neighbours."
But before he COUld execute his intention, his
progress iras arrested by Ford, who placed hi-
278 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
back to the door, and then locking it, put the key
into his pocket. Louis' eyes flashed.
" In my own rooms, sir ! "
" In my own rooms ! " echoed Ford, insolently.
"An Englishman's house is his castle. When
you comply with our civil request. You know
the old proverb, ' Birds that can sing and won't
sing .' Come, now, don't be determined and
fiery, and all that sort of thing ; you lent your
rooms till eleven, you know."
" To be sure," said Frank ; " and by the united
concurrence of our watches it is not eleven yet.
They can't all have got wrong on purpose to spite
you, Louis. It is very ungracious of you to want
to get rid of us so soon. Come, sit down ; we'll
go at the proper time ; I want to hear a little more
of ' King Arthur.' Let's see if we can do it
better."
"It is against all grammar and logic," said
Hall, "to say a bad thing can be better, — bad,
worse, worst."
" Then let us see if we can do it worse," re-
plied Frank. " ' Nothing venture, nothing have.' "
As they made a motion to move, Louis returned
to the table, in the hope of being able to say
grace ; but before he could say a word, the table
was vacated, and the piano surrounded with cla-
morous cries for the pianist. Louis lingered a
minute, till three of the musicians, one on each
side, and one behind, forced him to the piano, and,
as by his own watch it was not the hour on which
l..\ . ID PRIORY. .'270
lie liad fixed, he mechanically resumed his occu-
pation.
" I say, Ford," remonstrated Hall, " we have
her too much noise, — too much horn obbligato.
Even supposing you were a first trumpet, I don't
know that it would save us from the unpleasant
consequences of keeping the dons awake. Entre
\8 } I'd advise you to keep your horn a little
more in the background."
"My horn! — no envious reflections, base in-
siuuator ! " replied the accused, blowing a blast
of defiance : " I should like to know what would
become of the music, if the eornet-a-piston were
tacit."
"We'll show you, if you will be quiet till we
•:ct to the end."
"Come, Louis/ 3 said Frank, " sing this with
me."
No more now: I cannot sing any more to-
night," replied Louis, rising from his seat. "It
'•> now past eleven, and I cannot have any more
music here, Frank. I have relied on your honour,
and now you must go. Remember, 1 am respon-
ile for the noise in niv rooms. Mr. Ford, will
\ on unfasten the door ?"
I'll sport the oak " said Ford, "and then we
may set the dons at defiance."
■ Tins condud LI 001 to be borne," said Louis;
' Frank— "
M \ 1 1 • : 1 1 I you arc too hullY," said Frank,
Confidentially. "Take it in good part and sing them
280 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
a song, and we'll go. I shall not be able to get
them out without it."
But Louis was inflexible. He seated himself
on the sofa, and would not be cajoled into doing
anything. Ford fastened the outer door, and then
relocking the inner, commenced a vigorous attack
on Louis, whose determined resistance, in their
excited state, only incited them the more. He
declared at length, he would play " Britons, strike
home ! " till Louis gave them a song, and he con-
tinued blowing loud blasts till his friends, in self-
defence, took their several instruments, and com-
menced a new description of a Dutch concert, on
an extended scale. But the uproar was by thi«
time destined to receive a check.
Mr. Royston, who had been deeply absorbed in
an abstract mathematical calculation, now became
sensible, in the stillness of the night, that an
unusual noise was proceeding from a room on his
side of the " quad," and after enduring it for a few
minutes, rose and sallied forth to ascertain whence
it issued. As he left his rooms, the sounds burst
on him in all their power, and directed him to the
place whence they came. He had nearly reached
Louis' rooms, when he met Mr. L., who had been
roused from his slumbers by the same uproar ; and
mutually expressing their surprise at hearing so
much noise from such a quarter at that hour,
they proceeded to knock at the closed door.
The musicians were at the height of their
uproa"*", and wild with excitement. At first the
DA- II WOOD PRIORY. r.'Sl
repeated knocking did not arouse them. Louis
was the first who heard it, and starting from the
sofa, he stilled the noise for a moment by pointing
to the door.
• Hey! what?" said Ford.
A loud and continued rapping. The musicians
listened, and Frank Mith open mouth and eyes
looked from one to the other.
u Noa erat" he said at length, with ludicrous
solemnity — " There was a knock."'
" The enemy 's come/' said Ford.
A voice was now heard, but what was said was
undistinguishablc. It was answered by Frank in
the same tone, at I sec a voice; I hear a face.'"
" Ford, give me the key," said Louis.
" I don't know what I have done with it."
" Find it quickly ; or some one break open the
door somehow."
•• Now, what a wasteful young gentleman you
..I' to go spoiling good locks in that manner,"
said Ford ironically, as Louis seized the poker
'I began to exert his own strength on the
door.
" Frank, help me," he cried. "I have not the
least idea how to do thi-."
But Frank seized the COmet-a-pistOB instead,
and blew the lirst few notes of ''Come, if you
dare I '' and the others stimulated fiddled away in
defiance; while Louis, after- vainly uaing the
ker, tried a knife on the lock and broke it. .\<
every interval of the noise, the outer rapping, and
28.2 DASHW00D PRIORY.
a command, partially audible, to open the door,
was heard, but iu a few minutes it ceased.
" The enemy 's routed/' said Frank, as he laid
his trumpet down; "and I think we had better
decamp as soon as the coast 's clear."
" We shall get into a pretty mess," said one
who was more sober than the rest. u We have
forgotten that the dons are not deaf. Hadn't we
better be off at once ? It only wants a quarter
to one."
"Frank! is this vour honour?" said Louis,
indignantly.
But Frank was not to be touched by any appeal
at present. He was, however, sufficiently sensible
to the necessity of going immediately, and having
prevailed upon Ford to find the missing key, the
door was unlocked and the instruments shouldered.
" You had better leave them till to-morrow,"
said Frank ; " you will run better without them."
There was a grand searching for caps, and
hardly had each possessed himself of one, when
the knocking vas renewed with double furv.
" We are done for," said Hall.
"We are not without arms," said Frank,
snatching the pistol from the mantel-piece, and
planting himself firmly opposite the entrance as
Louis threw open the door. " Stand back, who-
ever you are. I'll shoot the first man that enters."
The words had hardly passed his lips when
Mr. Royston entered, and a loud report told that
the threat had been put into execution. A loud
DASHW00D TUIORY. 283
. from Louis at the instant the weapon was raised
warned the good tutor to stand back, and a kind
prompt hand knocked up the pistol at the moment
it was fired, or the old man had never spoken
in. The bullet whizzed by, and lodged in the
wall above t he door. There was a dead silence of
horror. Frank let the weapon fall, and turning
white, staggered against Ford, groaning, "Oh,
oh ! I did not know it was loaded I"
lie was at this instant seized bv a rough hand
and pushed behind the door, and Mr. Royston's
voice said huskily, "Not one word, sir; not one
word. Don't betray yourself, or — "
He did not finish his sentence, for a fresh party
had entered at the moment. "What passed neither
Louis nor Frank could well say they knew. They
knew that an investigation was going on, that it
was discovered that the pistol was loaded, and
that, finally, they were all called upon to give
their names, and were led each one to his room-,
with an injunction to keep them till further notice.
ink lunged to speak to Mr. Royston, but thai
ntleman talked constantly of the enormity of
the sin and the necessity of making an example,
and never approached him, nor exhibited the Lead
amiseration for him.
When all were gone, and the last i'ooNtep had
died away in silence. Louis began gradually to
.lize what had happened, and to understand the
LOOS position in which he was placed. lie
id with folded arms fur full ten minutes alter
281 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
his door was closed, looking abstractedly on the
desolate scene before him. He then threw him-
self on the sofa, and, burying his face in the
pillow, neither moved nor spoke for an hour ; and
when he next raised his head, the room was in
darkness. He threw himself on his knees, and
spread his case before his God ; and gradually the
burden grew lighter, and a consciousness of for-
giveness for his part in that night's errors, and a
conviction of blamelessness with respect to the
uproar came 4 but then as fears for himself were
lightened, those for his cousin increased. With
bis usual sweetness, he forgot Frank's breach of
word, which had brought him and the whole party
into the scrape, and all the rough usage he had
received, and only thought of the trouble in which
his tormentors were, and the slight hope that
appeared for any of them. At last, worn out, he
sank into a light doze, and woke as the first grey
morning light stole into his chamber, and exhi-
bited to his view the wreck of the previous night's
revelry; — remains of dishes, broken glass, empty
decanters, stained and crumpled tablecloth. Here
a knife and fork on the floor ; there a black bottle
rolling. A violin under foot in one direction ; the
obnoxious cornet-a-piston in another. Pieces of
music in various parts, with loose and torn leaves.
He looked sadly on all, with a fervent determina-
tion never to have such another morning sight in
his rooms, and drew back the partially-closed
window-curtains. Over the tops of the opposite
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 285
buildings a yellow rim of light was gradually dis-
placing the grey mantle of early morning; and
conspicuously before hini in solitary sweetness, as
a gleam of promise, shone the fair morning star.
The stillness, the calmness of that quiet sky
- i-med to shed its influence over his mind; and
he knelt down before the window, and in the
depths of his full heart breathed the unuttered
petition which asked everything for His sake, who
has said, (> I am the bright and morning star! "
When he rose from his knees, and retired at
length to bed, it was in the sweet consciousness
that nothing should harm him, that all Mould
yet be well : and this sweet consciousness comes
often to the trusting child of God. " Who shall
harm vou, if ve be followers of that which is
good?" The world cannot understand his secu-
rity — his sine confidence.
Louis was in a heavy slumber when the scout's
summons roused him. He answered mechanically
■
and fell asleep again till the chapel bell began to
ring; when, remembering he was a prisoner, he
dressed deliberately, and went into his sitting-
room, now comfortably arranged for breakfast.
lie had scarcely begun to make his coll'ee, when
the door vrai unceremoniously burst open, and
Hamilton walked in, in a state of great excite-
ment, lie closed the dour, and then stood still
near it as Louis :ose, and without noticing his
morning welcome, began —
" hums, what have you been about? Yon bave
28G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
got yourself into a pretty scrape, now, have you
not V s
As Louis did not answer, but stood looking at
him with changing colour, Hamilton commenced
a hasty march up and down the room, without
speaking. Presently, stopping suddenly, he ex-
claimed —
" What possessed you to have that wild set
here ? Louis, you want looking after like a baby.
Just the old, old story !— the old, old story ! " he
continued, resuming his march. " Well, you have
done it now. You will be rusticated as sure as
fate — as sure as fate, if not worse ; and I dare say
you have not had much hand in it. It is really
the most vexatious piece of business . Well, you
deserve it, too, for that terrible shilly-shallying
habit of yours : nothing but experience ever will
teach you to stand by yourself."
Louis placed the cup he was holding on the
table, and looked steadily at Hamilton, with a
face from which all colour seemed to have flown,
but he did not speak.
" You seem to be wonderfullv cool and uncon-
cerned," said Hamilton, impatiently; " do you
understand what has happened, Mr. Mortimer ? ,:
" Quite," replied Louis, with calmness ; " quite :
but I could not help it. And I feel I am not to
blame even for having them here ; and if I suffer,
it will be with a clear conscience."
Hamilton shook his head, but paused in his
walk, and Louis continued :
DASHWOOD P&IORY. 287
" Sit down and hear me quietly; and perhapa
you will think, after all, I have not been very
much to blame."
Hamilton declared he could hear very well
standing; and Louis, reseating himself, began his
story, — his friend moving up and down the room
at intervals till it was concluded; when he drew
near the fire, and taking a chair, sat for a few
minutes in deep thought. Louis watched the
relaxed expression of his countenance anxiously.
• Well," he said at length, "it is better than I
expected. Mr. Frank di everything, he does
indeed. He'll get a pretty lesson this time,
however ; I am glad of it.''
" Hamilton ! " said Louis, reproachfully.
" A man who saerilices his word of honour to a
practical joke, deserves all the punishment he
meets with. Badly as I have always thought of
his low joking, I did not think that of Frank."
" Noi did 1" said Louis ; " yet I am very sorry."
Hamilton would acknowledge no tenderness of
feeling on the point.
■ Had lie kept his word," he said, " it would all
have been well. He has brought it entirely on
himself; lie has no one to blame but himself.
Dear me,' he continued, very gravely ; "what
mercy— poor fellow! It is a severe lesson. It might
have been '-till worse. Now, Louis, go on with your
operations. 1 will take some breakfast with you,
and thin 1 -hall go and get an interview, ifp0S<
sible, with the head, and set this matter right."
288 DASHW00D PRIORY.
" Do not be hard on Frank, Hamilton," said
Louis, earnestly.
" I shall tell the whole truth. I will not leave
the matter half done," replied Hamilton, decidedly.
" Of course, I shall do Frank no avoidable harm."
Louis proceeded in his preparations, while
Hamilton asked where he could find a sheet of
paper, and having obtained it, sat writing rapidly
at the breakfast-table, even after his cup was
filled, and a couple of eggs placed near him by
Louis' silent care. He turned round hastily now
and then, and absently partook of the refreshment,
till at length pushing aside his writing materials
with a " That will do," he set to work more seri-
ously to the business before him, and talked of
one or two common-place subjects to Louis. At
last he rose, and bidding Louis a hasty adieu, left
the room, taking with him the paper he had filled.
He paused a moment on the staircase outside,
and then ran up to the landing above, where two of
the party of the preceding night lived, and after
a hasty knock, walked into the nearest room,
paper in hand, to the owner, who was lying full
length on the sofa reading a novel.
" I have but little time, Mr. Cox," he said, with
a slight stiff bow. " Mv business will excuse mv
intrusion. I believe you were in Mr. Mortimer's
rooms last night ? "
" I was," replied the gentleman, who had risen,
at first not recognizing Hamilton, whoni he knew
only by sight.
li\ EIWOOD PEIOKY.
"Will you do me the favour to look at this
paper, and sign it, if you find the declaration
correct ? "
Cos coloured, and taking the paper from
Hamilton's hand, glanced over it, and rubbed
his hand over his mouth.
" It is to the purport, you see, that Mr. Mor-
timer was imposed upon; that the time of his
watch was altered, and Ins door forcibly locked.
It is truth, and you cannot as a gentleman refi
to sign it. I have come to you first as the neat* \
I shall get the signatures of all."
Cox looked at Hamilton doubtfullv, but the
calm determined gaze he met, seemed to ch<
-nine coming remonstrance, and he took the paper
to his desk and signed it without a word. A I
with another still' bow, Hamilton retired, and pro-
ceeded on the same errand to the other room-.
Forgetting that Prank's room was on the same
staircase with Louis', he made all his other
calls first. Mr. Ilalhcd cordially bore witni ss
Louis' gentlemanly conduct, by declaring he v
the onlj One of the party who behaved like
gentleman. Hamilton wasted no time anywlu re.
The last visit, before returning to Louis' staircase,
Mas to Ford, whom he found carelessly amusing
himself with a chess problem, seated before the
tire, with a loot on each hob, whistling the while
with apparent indifference to consequences. He
noved his feet on Hamilton's entrance, and aC-
tation fl ith one' equally distant.
290 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
asked to what lie might attribute the pleasure of
a visit from him so early.
"To get you to perform an act of strict justice,"
said Hamilton. " I must have your signature to
this paper, if you please."
An ironical smile passed over Ford's face as he
glanced over the declaration.
" Come as special pleader for your friend.
"Well, suppose I don't choose to put down my
name as witness for his good conduct."
" There is no alternative," said Hamilton,
quietly; "unless you resign your claim to the
title of gentleman. Your name being omitted
will only reflect upon yourself. You can give me
the paper, if you do not choose to sign it."
Ford scowled at Hamilton, and deliberately
began to read the writing, Hamilton standing by
without evincing any of the internal chafing
which the intentional tardiness produced in his
mind.
"Either your name or the paper," he said at
length : " I can wait no longer."
Ford slowly produced a pencil-case from his
waistcoat pocket, and after screwing the lead up
with equal deliberation, very slowly wrote his
name, and still retaining his hold as he handed
the paper to Hamilton, said, —
" I presume you arc bound for the Head, eh ? "
"What then?" said Hamilton, coldly.
" Because Royston — stop ! do you know who
fired the pistol ? "
..'. OD PEIOEY. 291
a
I do/' ton's laconic reply.
"Then the Head doesn't, that's all. Royston
didn't let the name out, and he won't/'
Hi? looked very hard at Hamilton, whose stern
counl :: slaxed in the slightest possible
degn , and returned the paper as he added, " A
word to the wise."
Hamilton's last errand was to Frank. lie had
met with a ready compliance from all the oth(
who generally expressed {heir Borrow tor the scrap*
into which they had got Louis in common with
themselves, and for the manner in which they had
returned his kindness.
Frank's breakfast was untouched, nor ha
made any attempt to begin it. The break:
things remained where they had been placed, ;.
the kettle was sending forth huge clouds of steam.
unnoticed by its owner, who sat with one elb
on the table, his chin resting on his hand, with hi »
back to the door. lie made no attempt to dis-
ise his distress, and Hamilton was aim
shocked to see the change one night's w arj m
had made. His face seemed suddenlv to ha
become Ballow, and his eyes, usually BO full I
fun and fire, weri' I i ,i ii and dull. His h
pearance and untidy hair, pushed back I
90 unlike him, ami s;>
o much trouble, that Hamilton' rn cnthu-
... rL »uia j ielded to a softer emotion, i i
'veil at him at. first as if he did nut know him,
and v. ishing him good morning, made some remi
292 dashwood priory.
about tlic kettle burning, and removing it, asked
Hamilton to sit down.
" I have no time, thank you ; I want your sig-
nature to this, Frank. You behaved very ill to
Louis last night, and this is all you can do to
repair it. He must not suffer for your want of
honour."
" Hamilton, you are too hard."
" I am not, Frank ; he relied only on you, and
you have betrayed him."
"You cannot say anything that I do not feel.
I can only offer in apology what you would not
receive as such. I will do anything. I mean to
clear Louis fully before I go, — as soon as "
Hamilton looked compassionately on him, but
could not comfort him. Frank fetched the ink-
stand, but his hand trembled so violently when he
took the pen, that he could not write his name
legibly for a minute or two.
" I don't know whether they can read it ; but,
Hamilton," he added, " you will believe me now,
though I have not been as good as my word.
Before God, I did not know that pistol was loaded.
I never thought of that."
" I believe you from my heart, Frank. Poor
fellow ! " replied Hamilton, squeezing his hand ;
but he gazed steadily and almost sternly into his
pale face, till his gaze brought a shade of colour
there, and Frank replied, —
" I know everything you say there, Hamilton.
If I never thanked God trnlv before I have now
DASHWOOD PKIOHY. 293
for that wonderful escape. It was an insult any
how, Hamilton, I should not have offered, had I
been in my senses, for — he — has been very kind
to me. Hamilton, I will never taste another
drop of wine while I am in college; but that — it
is no use Baying about that now. Good-bye."
•• ( lome, things may he better than you think,"
I Hamilton, kindly. "You had better get
something to eat ; you look knocked up."
Prank shook his head, and Hamilton departed
with a promise to call in again when he had
finished his errand. What passed in the inter-
w Hamilton readily gained, has not transpired ;
hut in h-> than an hour he returned to Louis,
bearing the welcome news that all was straight so
far as himself was concerned ; and while he was
lating all the interesting particulars, a messenger
arrived commanding Louis' attendance in the
oimon room, where a few words released him
from his durance, and' gently admonished him
oust had company, kindly alluding at the same
ic to his known steadiness and exemplary beha-
viour since coming into residence, and recom-
mending him to persevere in the same course to
the end. \> he left his room on the way to this
interview, Hamilton said, in a low voice, —
"They do nol know who fired the pistol."
I [owever, Louie was asked no questions, and left
the presence w ithoul any obligation of Baying Mi'
than •• Thank you."
But the characters of the res! of the party
294 DASHW00D PRIORY.
underwent a more searching ordeal. Gate-books
were scrutinized, lecture and cliapel lists conned,
and notes compared : and here Frank's unremit-
ting regularity and early hours stood him in good
stead ; and as his friends generally were not very
flagrant offenders, the dons seemed inclined to be
lenient. In vain was the name of the principal
offender demanded of Mr. lloyston; he was inflexi-
ble, and spoke so bravely and warmly on the hasty
mistake which the youth, whoever he was, was
ruing so bitterly at the moment, that all expressed
their admiration of the kindness of the feelings of
their colleague. It was at last concluded that the
gentlemen should be reprimanded and "gated,"*
and the matter passed over. Two of them, how-
ever, of whom Ford was one, were laid up in
remembrance for the next slight offence, as many
omissions and commissions were found recorded
against them. There was little doubt in the
minds of the authorities *as to the real offender,
when the young men in a body entered the room ;
but the same glance which revealed all, also told
that the punishment was enough. Frank stood
motionless, with dull, heavy eyes fixed on his
judges, as if he expected nothing, heard nothing,
and knew nothing. After a long speech on the
gross impropriety of their conduct, the Head con-
cluded with —
" This offence would have been much more
* I. e. (for the benefit of the uninitiated), confined to the
college after dark.
SHWOOD FBIOBY.
rarely visited, had not Mr. Royston refused to
e up the name of the guilty party, whom we
mid have expelled, had we discovered him. As
it is, considering the regularity and steadiness of
nearly all, we are Avilling to pass over it under
•;ain restrictions. We need nut, we hope, re-
commend that the first use you will make of your
liberty will be to make all the amends in vour
power to Mr. Royston, whom you have so grossly
iiisnlii d
The restrictions w< re then named, and with low
hows and thanks tor the leniency shown, the party
withdrew to .Mi-. Royston's rooms with a sense of
relief, and in one or two of gratitude, that can
food only by those who have been in a
similar condition. Ford professed to make light
of it, but no one followed his example. Frank
remained behind, and as the last entered the
loom, turned towards the door of his own. He
red into it, and sat down in a sort of giddy
stupor, till he supposed the ceremony was over in
tutor's room, lie met his friends coming out
quil eered.
"• 'I ae i i over, Digby. but von won't
behaved very well ; but he
■on were. Yon mu ad thank
him."
" Do yon suppose I need any reminder V* said
I scd them and entered the room.
man had bet .1 a little disappointed
und
296 DASHWOOD PRIOilY.
Frank removed his cap and approached a few
steps, but he could not speak; he unclosed his
white lips, but no sound came, and a violent fit of
shivering came on, which he could hardly repress
by the most determined efforts.
Mr. Royston looked and waited.
" Never mind ; that will do/' he said at last,
very gently. " Poor lad, I know you'll never
cut the old man's coat again, eh ? there, there."
Frank was worn out with intense trouble, fast-
ing, and his sleepless night. He began : " Sir — "
and then letting his cap fall, he sank on one knee,
and covering his face with both hands sobbed
\iolently.
" There, there/' exclaimed the tutor, removing
one of his hands and pressing it fondly. " There,
there now, no more crying ; it can't be helped.
Boys' frolic: — it was a serious one though," he
said, kindly ; but his own eyes were filled with a
moisture that did him honour, and his hand shook
nearly as much as Frank's. " There now, get up.
You're overdone. These late hours are sad
things. I know you'll be more steady; come
and sit down."
Frank raised his head, and with an effort gasped
out, —
" I am unworthy of your kindness, sir ; I did
not know the pistol was loaded. Can you forgive
me?"
" Nay, I don't suppose you thought of killing
anv of the old boys," returned Mr. Royston.
• fv
:'-V
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 297
" I'll tell von what vou must do, Frank ; vou
must kneel down tins day and thank HlM who
turned that weapon aside. You know I don't
mean that human hand : no, wc must look beyond
that;" he said, very seriously. "This morning
mighl have brought no relief."
" To a life-long sorrow/' murmured Frank.
'■'And. Prank, vou must think seriously before
II im where the fault lav: it wasn't whollv in
pointing a pistol."
" No, sir, it was not, indeed," replied Frank,
sinking his faee on his hands again. "Not wholly
indeed," he murmured indistinctly.
Mr. Royston raised him up and made him sit
down, and then bustled about to get a glass of
wine, which he made him drink, and watched the
cessation of the violent shivering and sobs, and
made him warm his cold hands.
There had been little said, but Mr. Royston
understood it all, and resolutely stopped Prank's
its to explain his emotions of gratitude and
row, both almost too vehement for words. It
was marly an hour before Prank returned to his
rooms, when In- -ported his oak, and Long remained
in solemn prayer and repentance for the e\ents of
i he last fru hours.
Prank was not weak, nor did impressions easily
wear off with him. lie adhered strictly to his
determination, withstood the jeering and imita-
tions ot' his acquaintance, and never tasted wine
all the remainder of his college career ; and it
298
DASHWOOD PHIOIIY.
was remarked that, though in the course of time
his love of fun resumed its place, he never planned
nor engaged in any practical jokes, and his love
and attention to the kind old tutor were only
equalled by that which Mr. Royston lavished on
his truly reformed pupil.
frees <r.'
.
DA> I 1'itIOKY.
CHAPTER XIX.
"In acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy
paths."
it thy works unto Him, and thy thoughts shall bo
•
mphe .' It was a glorious June day, Oxford
rmed with visitors: beds were not to be had
at the principal inns for love or money. All the
fat!. aothers, brothers, and sisters, to e
nothing of cousins and friends, seemed to have
mimed themselves into the venerable citv, for
the grand commemoration of benefactors.
Early in the morning from every quarter in
which a college stood rushed the eager gownsmen
to the small door of the theatre, each one desperate
to be first, pushing, jostling, and squeezing each
ithervi ithont mercy, the foremost rank beingcruelly
pro I gainst the iron rails, ponring oul thr
at on the policeman in attendance if
did not admit them before the hour. The two
I ■ .. d >or were Frank Diebyai ailton,
*
' was the adidate for the
English prize poem, and v. read his produc-
tion before th< ibled multitude. At length,
when the aoise and i: tiona \ their
the door was suddenly opened, and in
hed the mob. I I Hamilton ran for
300 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
their lives ; hundreds were after them mad with
excitement for the front row in the under-
graduates' gallery ; one false step, and whoever it
might be must be trampled to death. Up the
narrow staircase thev tore, and the three foremost
comers attaining the entrance to the gallery at
once, were all jammed in the doorway, unable
either to retreat or advance. Suddenly the mighty
force behind sent them all through with a violent
jerk, that threw them forward hardly able to
regain their equilibrium ; but the race was run,
the battle won, and with torn shirt-collars, ragged
gowns, missing neckerchiefs, and other mishaps,
the whole body tumbled in in like fashion, and
amid hooting, yelling, and laughter, our two friends
took their places, in the most convenient situa-
tion in the front row, congratulating themselves
on their success.
Now, though it may to some appear a work of
supererogation to enlarge on the scene of action,
so well known to thousands in our land, and
though we may fairly suppose that when an Oxford
Guide-book is not attainable, a kind friend may
generally be found to supply missing details on
these interesting points, yet as our volume is in-
tended for those who have not vet commenced
their own life at Oxford, and may be read by
many who have no opportunity of enlightenment,
we will ask those familiar with the scene to excuse
us, and to pass on while we endeavour to bring
the interior of the theatre before the eyes of those
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 301
who know nothing about it, and we will enter for
their benefit, with Hamilton and Frank, into the
highest gallery, a large roomy light gallery, the
only fault of which was that it was not spacious
enough for the numbers that lawfully or unlaw-
fully poured into it. Above their heads was a
beautiful painted ceiling; but as the gentlemen
Were well acquainted with its beauties already, it
had no attraction lor them; the cynosure of every
eye being a pulpit, considerably beneath them,
but elevated above the heads of all below. Thei(;
was another gallery underneath, of course only
partially visible to the undergraduates, which was
tilled with ladies in lull dress. Immediately in
fronl of the ladies 3 gallery were elevated seats for
the dons. Opposite the entrance into the gallery
was the orchestra, from under which the college
authorities and visitors, who claimed entrance to
the pit or body of the building, entered. There
was another pulpit immediately under Prank and
Hamilton, facing that already mentioned ; but with
this they had little interest, us it was not in any
way connected with the Newdigate hero.
The ladies were all seated, but the area below
was empty ; and pending its tilling, the noisy occu-
pants "f the upper gallery amused themselves in
then- own way. It was, j"ir excellence, their
<la\ , when their in 3 opinion'- of things in general
might be expressed without fear of consequences,
and a g< .ml u>e they made of it ;is far as LuUgS
were concerned. The continued repetition of the
30.2 DASHWOOD PRIOllY.
question,, " "What do you think of so and so ? "
applied to various individuals popular or ob-
noxious, eliciting vehement cheers, hisses, or
groans, at times mingled, was varied by " Three
cheers for the ladies \" " Three groans for the proc-
tors \" laughter, hooting, and all the other attend-
ants on the ceremony, which would defy the power
of pen to describe. At length from under the
orchestra came the Vice-chancellor, preceded by
the bedelles, and followed by the inferior lumi-
naries, who all took their places in the seats in
front of the ladies' gallery. Then followed the
bestowal of the honorary degrees on the " most
dignified/' and " most illustrious " personages,
who had previously been deemed worthy of the
honour, and as each newly-made doctor passed
into his place, the excitement of the upper gallery
was emitted in vociferous cheers.
Not to be too tedious, we will pass over the
following forms, and the Latin verses, to which,
though recited by our friend Charles Clifton, the
noisy audience paid little or no attention, having
apparently established the principle that Latin is
a " bore," — and make way for the hero of the day,
who has been standing back in the right-hand
rostrum during the previous recitation. Louis
had been summoning up his courage for the last
two days, and had concluded about two minutes
before his entrance, by wondering if he should be
able to say a word, when he found himself perched
above a mass of heads m constant motion below
ii \ a FOOD PBIOBY. 303
him, whil jiit hand Mas a galaxy of
trillion and beauty, and above, hundreds of eye
all anxious to see him. The magnitude of the
place, the glitter and beauty around him, onh
seemed to bewilder him. The colour rushed furi-
ously into his face, and his first impulse was to
h out again ; but while the orator was pcrform-
: his part, his self-possession gradually returned,
and by di was able to distinguish his
mother amid the B( a of ladies ; and there were t\.
laces very near him not strange, and by degree
remembered the likeness to his old friend
lisbury; and though he could not remember
j, he was sure two of Fred's sisters were
there. Hamilton's friendly face seemed to re-
are him, and he recognized more than one of
his friends in the upper gallery, though his position
at | did not allow him to see any old faces
down below. He had grown quite calm, and had
nost forgotten he was to play any part in that
: audience, when his turn came, and he found
himself standing he knew not how in the front
m:k1 of the back of the rostrum. His head
;n as the painful idea of making his own voice
heard by BUCh an audience rushed over him, and
his only thought at first was, "It is utterly im-
possible! I never can make them hear." This
iviction flashed across his mind in an instant,
he tremendous cheer greeted his appearance.
ff hot and cold, but as bis hesitation
on the poinl of becoming perceptible and
30 i< DASHWOOD PRIORY.
painful, his eyes caught clown below the figure of
his father and Dr. Wilkinson, and nerviDg himself
by a determined effort, he began. He was sur-
prised to find how distinctly his voice sounded in
the stillness with which his commencement was
received. Now it was that the early care bestowed
on him, in careful reading, and his late practice
with Hamilton, shone forth ; for though not pos-
sessed of a powerful voice, his distinct and careful
enunciation let not a word fall, and as he pro-
ceeded further in his composition, his diction be-
came more fervid and impassioned, till at one
slight pause, when his own heart had beat more
warmly, and his eye fired with the glory of
his subject, a hearty burst of vehement applause
paid a tribute, as much to the beauty of the read-
ing as to the lines ; and these were allowed by all
competent judges to be of no mediocre order, and
far surpassing any which for years had gained
the prize.
The poem proceeded through the four great
empires, dwelling slightly, but powerfully, on the
varied events in each, pointing to the development
of that time when the stone, that " Stone of
stumbling and rock of offence," but " precious
Corner-stone ;" that little, rejected, insignificant
stone, yet " cut out of the everlasting hills with-
out hands," "neither made nor created," smote
the image on its feet, and bearing all down by its
mighty and irresistible force, still waxing larger
and larger, " became a great mountain, and filled
DASH WOOD PRIOllY.
die whole earth." Surely it was a theme on
which the pious young heart rejoiced to dwell,
that glorious time when "the knowledge of the
iry of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the
waters cover the sea;" and Louis' soul was in
and the earnestness of his utterance and the
vour of his tones seemed to create a kindred
warmth in his hearers for the time ; and when he
concluded, half a minute's silence honoured the
majesty of his Bubject, and then cheer after cheer
arose as he gracefully bowed and quitted the scene
of his glory. And where did he go? His heart
- overflowing. He waited for no one, not even
his parents. There was something before that;
there was One to whom the first vows were to be
paid ; and regardless of all else, he hurried to his
roomSj and shutting the door, rushed into his
bedroom.
'•This is too much, O my God ! This hoi;
for me ! 1 am not worthy of it."
And hi' raised hi-- hands and tearful eyes, ;is he
ok '>n his kneeSj u Oh, that I could praise Thee !
l.ei my life praiseTheel This for me, an unprofitable
m rvanl ! Oh. give me :i truly thankful heart."
Then the lull tide welled up ;ind stopped utter-
ance, lis father and mother the joy of giving
them that happine88l Could a lite of entire
devotion repay one tithe of the mercies he had
leived? lor it was no; tins one alone, hut ;.ll
seemed to rise up before him, and amidst all, that
.it one, that he was able to he thankful.
\
30G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
It was some time after he had left the theatre,
when a party who had been vainly searching'
everywhere in the vicinity of his Honour for tin
hero of the day, entered, and among them were
his parents, Neville, Hamilton, Frank, Charles
Salisbury, and Dr. Wilkinson. More Avere behind,
but a degree of respect for his parents kept them
from pressing into the room.
" Where can he be ?" was reiterated in various
tones. " Louis, you runagate ;" " Mortimer, you
defaulter." " Here's his poem : he's in his bed-
room."
"Then we will wait," said Mr. Mortimer.
" But here he comes."
The noise had aroused him, and he entered the
room directly, with a most happy expression and
moistened eyes that told of much. There was
nothing heard for some time but congratulations
and praises. He shook hands with all by turns,
receiving their congratulations in silence, for he
could not speak. His father looked so proudly on
him, his mother was almost as tearfully happy as
himself, and Dr. Wilkinson's excitement was
nearly equal to Hamilton's.
" I always thought you a bit of a poet, Louis,"
said Charles Salisbury. "But it seems wonderful
to me how you can ' spin such a yarn/ as Fred
would say, in verse. However, I think I could
almost try, to have the ladies as mad after me as
they all are about you."
Louis smiled.
DA- II WOOD PllIOKV.
" But the reading, Louis/' said Hamilton : " it
was, after all, a masterpiece."
" It was," said Dr. Wilkinson. "I felt proud
to own you."
•■ You must not say any more," said Louis;
" my head will be turned. I wish I had some
wine to offer you ; but I never take it myself, and
I have none at present."
" Never mind that, my boy," said his father ;
" I shall do the honours to-d;iy : you arc to be i
guest."
They all sallied forth to the " Mitre," where
dinner was ordered, and there were more old
friends — Nevinson, and Miss and Miss Fanny
Salisbury, with an aunt who had chaperoned
them; and there were more compliments to be
paid, and finally they sat down to dinner; and
though Louis was very silent, his friends madi
amends for his taciturnity, and obliged him to
return thanks for having his health drunk before
they retired. Louis was obliired to return to I
college, hut not before a very pleasant, though,
other noisier evening than he could havi
liked, had passed. The Salisburys departed for
he lef; . and as he bid them good-
bye, i • aple of rosebuds, with
which she had h< en playing.
As L niis picked them up, Charles Baid, —
m, Louis; she meant them in honour
, but was too shy to give them. You will
him have them, Fanny V*
308 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
"Certainly, if Mr. Mortimer likes them,"
replied Fanny, with a merry laugh ; " but if he
takes my advice, he will throw them in the gutter.
Faded rosebuds are not for orators, are they
Mr. Mortimer?"
Louis laughed, but he did not throw them away
till he reached his rooms, where they both dis-
appeared somewhere, and were afterwards very
mysteriously found in his trowser-pockets when
he arrived at the Salisburys (where he spent two
or three days before he returned to Dashwood),
whence he soon transferred them to a box, in
remembrance of the great day of the Newdigate.
Mr. Mortimer accompanied Louis to the college,
and left him at the gates. Long he remained in
silent meditation ; his slumbers that night were as
lis;ht as an infant's.
We know how softening an influence sorrow
has upon the heart ; and we know, also, that
prosperity generally tends to render it more care-
less, and, unless upheld by the unfailing grace of
the Blessed Spirit, less spiritually minded. Yet
there are some kinds of prosperity, some honours,
which exercise the same influence as trial. They
seem too much to bear, — too much for our desert,
— too great a boon for one so ungrateful — when
the whole being seems pressed down under that
goodness which encorapasscth it. It is not that
all our mercies are not more than we deserve ; our
daily mercies need call forth a weight of grati-
tude ; but because they are daily, we seldom notice
DASHWOOD P&IOBY. •')<)!)
them, especially, unless the Lord reminds us, as
Jacob of old, to build an altar of praise for those
blessings we have forgotten. Louis' prosperity
was of the Boftening kind, and he was not unsea-
sonably exalted thereby.
. - -
310 DASIIWOOL* PRIORY.
CHAPTER XX.
" They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in
great waters ; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders
in the deep. O that men would praise the Lord/cw His good-
ness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" —
Ps. cvii. 23, 24, 31.
Hail, holy Sabbath ! They who love thee, seem
to think thy skies should ever be bright and
unclouded.
Brightly dawned one Sabbath morning in July,
18 — , and far as the eye could reach on the broad
circumference of the horizon, unbroken by any
object, save the fleecy clouds and the hulls of a
few distant vessels, the brightness of the coming-
sun shed his fair rays, chasing stars and twilight,
and gradually displayed his splendour to the eyes
of the thoughtful midshipmen who paced the deck
of the Hippolyta, keeping their morning watch.
One of them was a line tall fellow, with head
as erect as if his six feet of length had never
bent to five when he stowed himself away in the
middy's berth. An incipient pair of whiskers
and a slight moustache told of coming manhood,
while the almost infantile sweetness of his beau-
tiful mouth and the clear expression of his blue
eyes betokened a youthfulness again contradicted
DASHWOOD PRIORY.
by his broad shoulders and manly voice. He was
not always so thoughtful; his roaring hearty voice
was generally one of the foremost in mirth and
merriment ; but the calmness of that morning
imed to have spell-bound him j his lips were
firmly closed, and his earnest gaze was fixed on a
distant cloud with an intensity that seemed to
allow of no other thought. The cloud did not
move; others swept past gloriously, grandly; I
sun laid his course and lighted the dark line ii. -
:i white streak. The middy's companion at length
rallied him on his silence; but he did not hear,
and Btraining bis eyes more eagerly for a few
seconds, he suddenly lifted his blue cap, and waved
it above his head.
" Old England for ever ! " he exclaimed.
"Land ! — where ?" asked his companion.
"I don't see anything, Salisbury."
Salisbury waved his cap in the direction of the
line nil directed his glass to the point.
• S in ! '"' he said; and letting the
fall to the length of the Leathern strap to
which it was attached, tossed his can in the air
with a loud "Hurrah!" just as a voice from
■r part of the ship proclaimed the welcome
bavins bi >me little delay in
■ the man at. the masthead al the morn-
:. our midshipman had the ha] - of
og their n r nival first. ' »'i ! how
wildly the hearts whether y r old, that
morni. arly
312 DASHW00I) PUIOKY.
over, — the fatherland was in sight, — and a pros-
perous wind -was bearing the gallant frigate towards
its shores. We trust there were not a few who
felt that a mightier power than man's skill had
kept them safe. The nearness of eternity is too
often brought immediately before the sailor to be
wholly unnoticed.
As the morning wore on, the coast became more
visible, and thev could see the divisions of many
white cliffs, and with glasses discover the tall
landmarks the lighthouses, and here and there a
tower either of castle or church. At the usual
hour all hands were summoned to prayers ; — and
surely, if ever an attentive congregation kneeled
on that deck, or listened to the words of the
chaplain, it was on that day, when fluctuating
hope and fear made the heart feel there was no
help but in the Lord. The clergyman took
his text from the hundred and seventh Psalm,
from the twenty-third to the end of the thirty-first
verse ; and while reminding his hearers of the
many perils from which the Lord had delivered
them, he called on them to " praise the Lord for
His goodness." " When the stormy wind arose,
and the wonders of the Lord in the deep made all
hearts to melt because of trouble, how many of
you, my friends, vowed unto the Lord in that
trouble. Who," continued he, solemnly, — " who
has remembered those vows? Who has paid them
to the tender Guardian who ' never slumbered nor
slept ? ' Better that thou shouldest not vow, than.
DA8HW00D PBIOKY. 313
that thou shouldest vow and not pay. I call upon
all to magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt
His name together. We called upon Ilini, and
He heard us and delivered us from all our fears.
'Oh that men would praise the Lord for His
fondness ! ' "
But he did not here conclude. "How were
they to praise the Lord? Not only with the lips,
hut in the life. By a life entirely devoted to His
service. Let them declare among men His praise.
i iel the hie lie spared and the giftslle has bestowed
he all used to I lis glory. Let the talents be pin
on! to interest, that at His coming He may receive
1 lis own with usury."
The clergyman dwelt much on this part of his
lecture, particularly addressing himself to the
young oiliccrs; and Frederick Salisbury sat with
grave brow and parted lips, thinking how many
things he had neglected. The service was over,
and now they neared the coast; the few hours
had brought them in immediate sight, and they
passed <>u their way so close, that as the afternoon
wore on they could see the people passing along
t<> church ; and the midshipmen were cither iii
high spirits or silent with great excitement, for
each young heart had flown to its own borne, ami
fancied the Sunday occupations of each dear one;
and they dared not whisper the shade of appiv-
hension that glided over the mind lest one dear
one should be missing.
The tedious time slipped by, and at length the
314 DASHWOOD PRIOKY.
Hippolyta anchored at Sheerness ; and having
obtained leave of absence, Salisbury was not long
in finding a passage in one of the packets from
thence to London ; and after a due transit through
the Custom House, he found himself steaming up
the Thames at the rate of ten miles an hour, clad
in white trowsers and a rough pilot-coat, and
retaining no mark of his attachment to Her
Majesty's service, save the little blue undress cap,
which was perched on his head rather on one
side, allowing the light curly hair to display itself
in the most becoming manner; and too happy and
restless to sit still, he walked rapidly up and down
the deck, with his hands shoved into the loose
pockets in the front of his coat, humming and
smiling most radiantly, with a word for every one
in his way, — now stopping to amuse a cross child,
— now picking up a fallen basket or handkerchief
of some lady passenger, — anon descanting on the
weather with the men, or " blowing up" steam-
boats to the gentlemen. But wherever his frank
handsome face turned, it won sympathy, and
seemed to shed a sunnv beam. At last he at-
tached himself to a couple of ladies, a mamma
and daughter, to whom he had introduced himself
by proffering a newspaper he had bought at the
landing-place; and furthermore, by the dexterous
manner in which he extricated a favourite dog
from a perilous situation; and before long he had
prevailed upon them to accept his escort for a
turn up and down.
DASHW00D PBIOB.Y.
"I think I need not ask if you have siste
said the mamma, smiling.
* Lots of them," said Salisbury, gleefully.
" It's hard work, ma'am, for a poor sailor to be
banished for four years with no ladies but the
Chinese houris."
'• You are a large family, then?"
" Twelve of us," replied the gentleman.
" Does your mother expect you home ? "
A slight shade passed over his face as he
answ< red.
" I sent them a line two days ago, but there's
no one to meet me here. I am afraid it missed
its moorings."
• You expected some one to meet you, then?"
" To be sure. Never mind, though; they'll be
all the more surprised. Look out!" he cried,
cat bold of a man who, disturbed by the
motion of the vessel, jolted rather roughly against
his charge : " Mind the ladies ! "
" i'- : pardon," said the man. " Portraits
taken, sir? Portraits taken, ma'am. One shil-
ling: only : . black profile, sir."
" I think 1 will, though: mother or little Fan
will iplicd.
'• i ! the lady. " Si we sit
awe can -."
angallanl thi to let you,
my fai Baid Salisbury ;
" it w ill (1 . you are t ired."
m \ ry tired," said the young
316 DASHWOOD PBIOB.Y.
lady, laughing : " I have only been beguiled into
walking a little."
Salisbury raised his cap, and immediately found
a seat with a back to it for the elder lady, and a
less convenient one for the younger and himself;
and amid much merriment the profile was taken
It was pronounced very like by the younger lady,
and by the elder not handsome enough. Salisbury
himself was quite satisfied, and decided that his
relations ought to be so too; for it was handsome
enough for him.
" Here's your shilling ; though I think you
might have made a fellow as handsome as he
ought to be, while you were about it."
" You could not expect black paper and scissors
to express your eyes and complexion, sir," said the
man ; " that's all it wants."
" Come, that's handsome. I am very like a
black swan, as we used to say at school," remarked
Salisbury almost to himself, as he looked more
steadily at the portrait, and a deeper smile shone
out of eyes and mouth, when he caught in it the
resemblance to his eldest sister.
It was mid-day when they reached London, and
after seeing his new friends safely to a hackney
coach, he procured another for himself, and set
off for the Paddington station, where the then
half-finished railway to Bristol commenced, and
reached it just in time to take his place by the
next train. We will not dwell upon the incidents
of the next few hours ; how wonderfully, as if by
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 317
his frank simplicity charmed the passengers,
and drew the children to him as though they
knew instinctively that he had some little ones
waiting at home for him; how, in his impatieo
of the tardiness even of steam, when they neared
Fairing Ion, he pushed his feet forward as if his
impotent ( m rtions could quicken the moving
Oh, sailor! perhaps thoughts of the guar-
dian care that reserved thee and thine for that
happy meeting, stole over thee when in the dusky
shade of the coming twilight thou nearedst thy
beloved home.
The coachman sel him down at the turn of the
ir which the house stood, and then,
though the high wall with its well-known gate was
near, something deterred him from hurrying
up; a kind of dread stole over him; "He had
not heard for so long — why had no one met him?"
He stood still irresolutely, looking at the dark
waving branches, till aroused by the whistling of
a passer-by, a labouring man.
\ good evening to you, sir."
" \lio\, my man," said Salisbury, rousing him-
I from his trance. "Lend a hand here with
this chesi up to j on gate."
"To Mr. Salisbury's?" asked the man, turning
and Beizing a handle of the large chest. " He
be heavy, hain't he? He musl hold a mort of
things. Xbu be come from foreign parts, rii
\y, a long way — from China. Do you know-
how Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury are?"
318 BASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Nay, I knows nought about '"em, sir ; 'cept
as they lives at yon house."
Poor Salisbury's heart sank more than when
he forced his lips to put the question. He wished
the man " good night/' after bestowing a shilling
on him, and stood looking doubtfully in at the gate.
He could see the drawing-room windows where
he stood, and the nursery above. The latter were
open, and the sound of some little voices issued
thence. Presently the sound of a piano, and a
well-known song below, broken off in the middle
by a hearty laugh, in which many voices joined,
reached him. Then his mother's tones, and though
he heard no words, he could hold out no longer.
Pulling the bell with all his might, he shouted
"Ahoy, there! ladies, ahoy!" with that tre-
mendous stentorian effect only belonging to the
sailor, but which when once heard can never be
forgotten, and when once sent forth with " a will,"
has a peculiar way of making itself heard. There
was a pause.
" A-h-ov, ladies ! "
Then a scream of " Fred ! Fred ! " and boys
and girls all rushed out of the low window, and
before the servant had arrived, the gate was flung
wide open, and Salisbury was amongst them — not
one was missing, all — all had been spared to wel-
come him back : the dearest mother in the world —
the kind, fond father — the proud, loving sisters —
and the hearty brothers in turn presenting them-
selves ; and little Kate, and the little brother, now
DASHWOOD PRIOEY. 319
no longer a baby, were brought down half-dressed
for their share of the embraces.
" How lie's grown, mamma. What a brown
face lie's got now/' cried Ethelrcd.
•• And, mamma, here are the whiskers too at
last, but not quite so bushy as you feared ; and
he really looks a man."'
•• 15 at I really thought Fred would come back
with his blue coat on, mamma; and his sword,
mamma, mamma," persisted Marianne a great
many times.
' I Jut where's little Fan? and I thought John
^ at home, poor fellow," said Salisbury, when
after the general embraces he began to distinguish
who was away.
" Thev are out," said Edith. " Your old school-
fellow Louis Mortimer is spending a day or two
with us, and they are all gone out together in the
nowhere."
"Did not you get my letter?"
: \\ i had no idea you were coming."
trangc. How's John, now ? "
•• He La quite well, and so kind and thoughtful.
I! you 'will love him more than i\
Here .1 Edith, as Fanny rushed in
•mil threw herself into her brother's arms, having
been informed on her entrance by the eager ser-
vant that Mr. Fred was come. John and Loui
followed.
"How curious thai I should be here on your
in;." ,<1 Louis, when 'In- first recognition
320 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
was over; " I am going early to-morrow to Dash-
wood. Had you been a day later, I should not
have seen you."
" Here is your tea, my darling boy," said his
joyful mother, as the quick, active servant placed
a lamp on the table, and set chairs round, lin-
gering in this arrangement, in order to see as
much as possible of Mr. Fred ; and then Fred
seated himself near his mother, and ate and talked
with equal rapidity. But who shall describe the
delight with which the mutual recitals were made
-and received — what a warm reception w r as given
to the black profile and the history of its produc-
tion, and how Mrs. Salisbury laid claim to it, in
spite of the vociferous reminders from her
daughters that she had a much better one in
water-colours. Fred had not long finished his
tea when he rushed into the kitchen, with a long
train after him, to pay his respects to the servants
he knew; and then calling on his brothers to
"bear a hand," insisted upon having his huge
chest carried into the drawing-room.
" What have Ave here ?" said his father.
" Heave oh!" was the reply, as the chest landed
safely on the floor, and the owner searched for his
key.
His mother came up to him and vainly endea-
voured to persuade him to postpone the unpacking
till to-morrow, assuring him he was too tired.
" Tired ! it takes more to tire me, mv blessed
old mother," giving his mother a huge embrace
DASHWOOD PKIOKY. 12 I
boss; and then fetching an armchair
her near the scene of action. None of the
young people being at all loath to see the inside
of the client again; the rummaging commenced in
earnest; and soon the floor was strewed with its
every-day contents, and the tables with the rarities
and to\N oil which the vounir man had laid out all
spare money. There was a set of carved
chessmen for his father, a crape shawl for his
mother; some china cups and fans and a couple of
ivory card-cases for his sisters, shells he had picked
up himself, and some Indian treasures which he
had procured as they touched at the great Oriental
continent on their wav home: and what most
warmed his parents' hearts was the knowledge
that these gifts were the product of self-denial
and constant thoughtfulncss ; for there had been
no overdrawing his account, no exceeding the
allowance made to him; and now he was repaid
by the -miles and expressions of gratitude, the
raptures and admiration, as each new article was
displayed.
•• And now, mother," said he at last, "here is
an Indian muslin dress and lining for you/'
I >h, how beautiful !" exclaimed the sisters in
a breath.
t me, my dear hoy? 1 can't wear white
muslin/' said his mother, as she spread the delicate
fabric on lirr knee. "An old woman like niysrlt
wearing such a dress; — really it is very beautiful !
I must make it over to one of the girls."
322 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
" You look as young as any of them."
"There, girls, do you hear that?" said Mr.
Salisbury.
" Well, do what you like with it, mother," said
her son. "I won't make any of the beauties
jealous."
"Edith, mamma ; Edith," said Fanny, eagerly :
" Edith will want a handsome dress soon."
"What do you say, Miss Salisbury?" said her
father. "Will it do?"
Edith laughed and coloured, and her brother,
who was just bringing a few shells to her, stopped
before her, and looked very steadily at her.
" Eh ?" said he at last. " What's in the wind,
Swan's Neck?"
Edith laughed and got behind her father, and
Fanny, throwing her arms round his waist and
turning her merry face up to him, whispered, —
"The Swan's Neck has found some one to play
Earl Godwin to her, Fred."
"Well done, Swan's Neck!" exclaimed Fred,
in an ecstasy, and in spite of Fanny's upheld
finger he rushed after Edith, and gave her a
vehement kiss, declaring that Earl Godwin was a
man of taste, and keeping his arm tightly round
her till she consented to whisper the name of her
intended, which she did not do till he had pro-
mised, in a whisper, that he would be quiet about
it for the rest of the evening ; and her eye glanced
shyly in the direction of Louis, who was standing
at a little distance looking on with an expression
DASHWOOD I'KIOUY. 32
of great interest. However, tliis piece of infor-
mation decided the fate of a pair of silver brace-
I . . and Fred begged his mother forthwith to
be bow the dress upon his eldest sister, who,
Fannv informed Louis, would now assuredly be
favourite till another Avas married; and she
presently hinted the same, with a saucy shake ot
her curls, to her dear Fred. He only stopped her
mouth with a kiss, and then brought forward the
article of any great importance in their eyes,
ich consisted of the hull of a ship, with masts,
pulleys, and blocks, ready to be put up; the latter
having been cut out of pieces of bone, which, he
told them, lie had saved from dinner.
""When that's done that's for vou, little Fan,
for your museum, my little mother, Fan. Sh
not grown so much as any of them, mother ;
she'll always be little Fan."
But it was growing very late, and Mr. Salisbury
was obliged to break up the party, and ring for
the servants to prayers. Fred thoughtfully seated
himself near his father, and drank in every tone
of his loved voice. It seemed such a dream to be
re again ; and when thanks w , returned I
iir happy meeting, there was a pans-, and all
v. the father iclt it almost too mneh for llttl
1 parted for the night, and the de
blessing invoked on hi.-- head by his parents t
id how fully they had been satisfied with hi
nluei while ab i ad how dearly they p
turning of his affectionate rac .
324 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
to his home ; and from how many evils had the
remembrance of that home been the instrument
of keeping him.
The many " good nights " were at last con-
cluded, and Fred had just closed his door, when a
little tap induced him to re-open it, and Fanny
entered.
" I could not go to bed without another kiss,
Fred," she said.
" Bless you ; why you are quite in a tremble."
She threw her arms round him, and he stooped
down and looked full into her now pale earnest
face.
" Fred, dear Fred," she said, " I am so afraid
that you should at all forget God's goodness. Will
you try to think of it, my own dearest brother ?
I have been thinking about those verses, ' I sought
the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me
from all my fears. Oh, magnify the Lord with
me, and let us exalt his name together V I don't
think you have forgotten though," she added,
tenderly, stroking his hair from his forehead with
both hands, and looking still more deeply into his
grave eyes. " Do you remember the text little
Marianne found in my text-book the morning
you were going away, ' The beloved of the Lord
shall dwell in safety by Him, and the Lord shall
cover him all the day long?' You will not be
angry with me, I know, because we all want
reminding sometimes."
Fred did not speak, but pressed two or three
DASIIWOOD PRIOKY. 3'25
times a long kiss on her forehead, and then with
another quiet " Bless you/ 7 released her.
Louis Mortimer returned to Dashwood the
next morning, after spending two very pleasant
days with his friends. The next Sunday thanks-
givings were returned at Church for the
safe return of a member of the congregation from
a long voyage; and though the sailor was soon
obliged to return to his ship, he was able to obtain
leave of absence not long after, to attend the nup-
tials of his eldest sister, who, arrayed in the India
muslin, was united in their parish church to the
happy Earl Godwin before alluded to.
326 DASHWOOD PBIOBY.
CHAPTER XXI.
" And be called his ten servants, and delivered unto them ten
pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." — Luke xix. 13.
" The night cometh, when no man can work." — John ix. 4.
Time passed. One after another Louis' college
friends took their degrees either with or without
honours, and entered into life more or less pre-
pared as their endeavours had tended towards
their preparation.
The precious time was gone never to be re-
called ; the large rich opportunities for improve-
ment and culture of the mind had vanished for
ever ; and in after-years, in many cases, to be
regretted in vain, for they could never be replaced.
It is in youth we generally fix our earthly career
each one for himself. Surely it is a momentous
thought that so much lies in our own power ; and
though we may feel that the child of God will
find work in any and every station, yet who shall
hold that man guiltless who has not striven to
raise himself as far as the talents given him
allowed? How many a one, newly awakened in
after-life to a sense of his duties to God aud man,
has mourned in vain wasted youth and opportu-
nities for enlargement of his powers of usefulness
never to return, but which, rightly improved,
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 827
would have opened to him a wide field for glori-
fying Him who called him into the light ot His
Gospel. Whether Ave have one talent or five, we
called upon to double them ; and God is not
a hard master; whatever we are commanded, we
may be sure we have power to perform. Work,
then, in the davtime of youth, — work in His
strength. " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
do it with all thv might."
re took a double first, and retired, soon
aft « ing his degree, to Bath, where he was
y successful in obtaining pupils. lie did not
take orders for some years after; when the gra-
dual working of that small seed — at what time
planted we cannot say, but it would seem
cither in the time of his disgrace at school, or in
his subsequent trouble — had arrived at mature
di relopment, and he felt he could answer "I
trust so " to the solemn query in the ordination
vice. Shortly after taking his degree, he
ined a fellowship attached to his college, and
the last heard of him was, that he was usefully
employed in an extensive parish,
earnest in everything that could bv any means
nd the knowledge of the love of Christ, de-
y and improved talent to his
. and de« ming all bul dr<
I he mighl win Christ, and be found in linn.
as a brilliant, faacinatii
or; Lcherj but aJl members have not
the and the clergyman who \i^iis his
328 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
flock with the love of Christ in his own heart,
bearing quietly and individually the message of
salvation to each, and carefully stemming every
inroad of the enemy in the hearts of his charge,
speaking by a life of holiness constantly to them,
is surely no less useful than he who by the power
of his eloquence and his gift in exhortation can
till his church till there is hardly standing-room.
At any rate, we generally see that it is the cler-
gyman's life at which his flock looks ; — it is the
holiness of his life that speaks the most loudly
to those who " seek for knowledge at his lips/'
and he whose life and conversation most nearly
resemble his great Master's ; — he it is who will be
considered the " messenger of the Lord of Hosts."
" By their fruits ye shall know them."
Frank took a first class in mathematics, and
second in classics. He was intended for the
ministry of the Church ; but having a proper
dread of taking upon him so solemn an office
lightly, he persuaded his father to change his
destination, and got a situation of some kind in
the House of Lords. And now Ave" come to our
hero, whose name, in spite of his tutor's earnest
endeavours and his own steady conduct, only
came out in the third-class list, — whether owing
to accident, or nervousness, or to the desultory
nature of his own arrangement of his studies, or
to want of sufficient ability, or all together, we do
not pretend so say. Some said he had not appli-
cation enough, and that if Hamilton had not made
DASHWOOD PEIORY. 3!29
him work, he would not have done even as much
\ as accomplished. Certain it was he was not
idle, and earnestly strove to do his dutv : but
perhaps his efforts flagged just where they would
have been of such signal service to him in his
munition; and though posseting a consider-
able amount of scholarship, he was too deficient
in critical accuracy and the hundred minutiae. SO
•ntial to a first-class man, and which were
attained by many hi> interiors in mind, though
not in perseverance. Hamilton went up to
London about the time that Louis returned home
strengthened in mind, and untainted by the fol-
lies with which he was in a measure surrounded.
And what had preserved him ? We need not say,
so far in our history. It was that " asbestos
robe*' — to use the words of a sweet writer of our
day- — of vital union with our living Head, — that
constant and daily communion with Him who
walketh through the fires with His faithful ser-
vants. The solemn important day so long looked
forward to had passed ; Louis' day-dream was
fulfilled ; and it was with a full heart that he
left the Priory, the Sunday after his ordination
at Norwich, to preach his first sermon in the
church in which lie had been dedicated to Cod, —
which his infanl step- had first t rodden,- -amidst
the well-known laces and warm hearts all willing
to think favourably of what Bhould proceed from
his lips. The church was very full, for some
strangers from a neighbouring village belonging
330 dasiiwood priory.
to Mr. Mortimer were there to hear the young
Squire's first sermon; and there was the rector's
own pew full, — his happy mother, eager Mary,
with her flushed face aud spai'kling eyes turned
often to the reading-desk and the communion-
table, where her brother was first to appear.
Reginald, now a cavalry officer, and Neville, from
Cambridge, where he was studying physic by his
own wish, were there, and his devoted old grand-
mother, who had undertaken the long journey to
be present at her darling's first sermon. Lady
Vernon sat comfortably cushioned in a roomy
corner of the pew, listening to his gentle voice
with that calm earnest attention which seemed
to belong only to one near the end of life's long
journey. "Was it true, indeed! Had his God
been so gracious to him that he should have the
desire of his heart ! Oh, God ! my God, how
bountiful thou art ! Thou hast led me hitherto.
Thine is the glory," were his grateful breathings,
as he slowly ascended the pulpit stairs ; but when
he met the many well-known faces, all bearing
the same earnest and gratified expression, it
almost overcame him ; he needed the few minutes'
communion with his God. He chose for his
prayer the collect for the first Sunday after the
Epiphany, and his text was from the first Epistle
to the Corinthians, third chapter, eleventh, twelfth,
and thirteenth verses. The sermon was very
earnest and faithful, delivered very quietly, and
rather timidly. He concluded it, at length, in
P. 3S1-
Louis and his Father leaving Church.
VOOD PllIOKY. 331
the words of the apostle, "Finally, brethren, pray
for as." Ladv Vernon folded her hands: her
were dimmed, as she breathed an earnest
tition for him, and the congregation dispersed
to talk quietly in their homes of the beautiful
i " Mr. Louis had made," and to wonder
'. a young man should have such a gift."
Louis and his father left the church almost mi-
me I he rest of their party. As Louis
the vestry, an aired man, who was standing
near, leaning with both hands on a stick, appa-
tly waiting for him, respectfully bowed; and
on Louis extending his hand, with his customary
etness and respect, to the hoary head, he seized
it, and looking earnestly in the young face with
ill of tears, said, —
" ' The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : the
Lord make His face to shine upon thee/ Sir, I
. you a babe at that font, I've watched you all
a growing up, audi bless God for it. AVill you
an old man's liberty ?"
ou are only too kind, Robins," replied Louis ;
" I am grateful for your affection."
ir, as long as it pleases the Almighty to
. may lie forbid that I Bhould sin in
sing to pray for you, thai He may you
m all snares. Oh, sir, keep clo the Bible,
Mu have done to-day . but th of
ir : in p you
from 1 1
\y. Robins," rejoined M r. M . " he
332
DASHWOOD PRIORY.
must beware lest any one spoil him through philo-
sophy and vain deceit. God grant it."
The old man looked still intently in Louis' face,
and added, with affectionate solemnity, —
" Concerning the works of men, by the word of
Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the
destroyer."
He released Louis' hand with another ferveut
blessing, and slowly followed the father and son
from the church. Louis watched his cautious
exit from the church-door, when unfastening the
park-gate.
" His grandson is not with him, father ; he can
hardly get on."
He retraced his steps immediately, and insisted
upon supporting the old man's tottering steps to
the end of the church-yard, where they found the
missing grandson, to whose care he consigned him,
and rejoined his father.
PA -II WOOD PRIORY. 333
CHAPTER XXII.
" Now we see through a glass darkly." — 1 Cor. xiii. 12.
•• What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter." —
John xiii. 7.
Some writer beautifully remarks, that "as in a
long journey, each turn of the road presents the
traveller with a fresh view, so in the Christian's
i xperiences are ever opening before him ;
vet he is not the less safe. The same hand leads
him, the same wisdom guides him."
Some of these experiences arc very painful, and
perhaps none more so than those which wake us
hi a dream of child-like security and peace to
a knowledge of differences in doctrine, of mis-
onderstanding, and bitterness of feeling among
those uh'>, in truth, have their feet equally linn
on the Rock of A^cs, and yet frown because each
cannot direct his brother's eyes to the exact point
of the horizon on which he is gazing. Alas!
Cli. will yon not remember that that slant-
in- gleam of sunlight that makes the ripple -Inter
before your eyes, exhibits, in rainbow tints, a
in.. re distant object to your differently Bituated
fellow-creature? Arc we not commanded to
" think soberly, according as Cod hath given to
every man the measure of faith:" "The same
334 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Spirit ministereth severally to every man as He
will." Surely we need constantly to recall that
deep reminder, " Who is it that hath made thee
to differ from another?"
There are certainly fundamental doctrines on
which no true Christian can differ. The doctrine
of the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity ;
the full, perfect satisfaction of the sacrifice of the
blood of Christ, and the impossibility of being
saved out of Him ; the entire ruin of man at the
fall, and the certainty of a future state of happi-
ness or misery. There can be no mistake about
these; and of these I do not speak now, but of
those abstruse and mysterious difficulties, those
divisions and subdivisions of difference, which
seem to constitute the whole religion of some
people, and with which they not uufrequently
distress and perplex the tender mind of a child in
Christ, drawing him away from his loving trust
in his mighty and tender Saviour, from those
sweet hopes and practical duties which should
constantly engage his soul, giving him instead a
meagre substitute of logical distinctions and subtle
definitions.
Were it not that the Christian knows that " all
things shall work together for his sood," he can-
not sometimes understand why his simple trust in
the love of Christ should be disturbed by these
conflicting opinions, why he could not be left in
practical ignorance of the schisms and differences
in the Church of Christ. And this distraction
DASHWOOD PEIORY.
sometimes comes upon him when his conscience
acquits him of having led himself into tempta-
tion ; and, tossed about with doubts, he exclaims,
" Where is my Maker, who used to give me songs
in the night?" "Why is this come upon me?
mv ems no longer enlarged under mv feet ;
it is hedged up with thorns. Why cannot I go
nit - the house of my God, and listen to B
pr ached word, without involuntarily cavilling
cpresaion, without the sinful eager-
ness to detect the shade of a wrong doctrin
II I we need not fear, — the true disciple of Christ
II not be left in darkness. He may not see the
hfulnesa that crept upon him; he knew not the
tendency that threatened to make him lukewarm
in the service of God. He would not have known,
perhaps, if he had not experienced the distress of
controversy in his own mind, how he would act
arda others; but God knew ail; and now he
will more carefully remember how the Apos
.1 became all things to all men, if bv any
.t save some. Perhaps he will
ne\ the d of his dark seasons, vet by-
'-by th shall be removed that is east
r all people, and he will sec that that very d.
and narrow pathway between the hedges of thoi
lie- only I lor him.
had Lorn | it in I
hwuod — y< ' quiet ha
. mini. hade which will
of pr
33G DASHWOOB PRIORY.
perity, a fear of coming evil, when the sudden
death of Lady Vernon, who was paying a second
visit to Dashwood, cast a gloom over all. Louis
was her favourite grandchild, and his affectionate
heart had always warmly returned her love. We
are apt to think in cases indifferent to ourselves,
that the death of an aged person, coming in the
course of nature, is a slight trial; but to those
concerned who can express the strange blank, the
wondering remembrance that the loved one who
has filled his or her place from our earliest re-
collections, shall fill it no more ?
The shock of the sudden loss, united with his
great sorrow and the extreme quietude of his life,
after a few weeks told upon Louis' health; and
change of scene and more activity of life were
prescribed for him. Mrs. Mortimer had been
rather anxious for some time previously, that Louis
should be more actively engaged; there was not
enough for three clergymen in their quiet well-
ordered cure, and she had noticed an indolence
of mind and manner, which she dreaded, creeping
over Louis. He was himself unconscious of it, but
there had been in the state of his mind something
a little akin to that spirit which says, " I am
rich and have need of nothing," because nothing
had occurred to remind him of his danger.
It was about this time the family party were
at breakfast one morning, when the post-bag was
brought in, and Mr. Mortimer, unlocking it, pro-
ceeded to distribute its contents.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 337
"Miss M< r, three for Miss Mortimer,"
he said, handing her 3 to Mary. "Reginald
Mortimer, Esq. We must not forget to forward
that. Here is one for mamma, and one for Doctor
Mortimer. There, Neville, the first letter ad-
1 to the doctor — from Cam! nidge, I per-
ceive."
Neville laughed, and opened it.
" Four for Louis, I declare, and none for me."
"Nor for nil','' said Freddy. "I declare, it's
real shame of Mr. Hamilton not to ai - r my
long l( tter."
I his i^ for you, father," said Louis, returning
one of his j "and there, Master Fred; Hamilton
only gives me a scrap, and you the lion's share."
"Oh! what a capital scrihe he is, after all!"
exclaimed Fred. "One always gets something
for grumbling. If ever I get impatient about
looking for a thing and grumble, I am sure to
find
Mr. Mortimer shook his head,
i'hat is a dangerous theory, Fred."
•• Well. I don't think 1 am likely to become a
misanthrope yet," answered Fred, with a blush.
'• Viu for a dive! What a long epistle ! I must
take -.in'' coffee to sustain me the while."
1 aence by all means," said Neville, "and
tin n, perhaps, we shall comprehend our own."
There was something in Louis' rrespondence
that Beemed to excite him a little, lor he looked
up once or twice with a heightened colour, hut
338 DASHWOOD PIUOIIY.
refrained from speaking, as the others were en-
gaged. At length, all but Mary having finished,
he began.
" I could not think what Hamilton meant by,
I hope you will not go to Trevanniou, but all my
letters are on the same subject. One is from
Trevannion to ask me to take his parish for six
months with Nevinson, who, you know, is his
curate, and Nevinson writes so anxiously that I
should come. Read them, will you?"
Louis handed the letters to his father.
"Trevannion! Where is he? Oh, I remem-
ber. Is he riot a little high ? I wonder he should
think of you. Hamilton thinks you had better
not go, does he?"
"Yes, he croaks sadly about Trevannion's prin-
ciples," said Louis.
" But his judgment is always so correct," re-
marked Mary, laying down her letter. " Don't
you think so, Louis?"
" Generally," replied Louis, smiling. " Only I
do not know how Trevannion's principles can affect
me, when he is in Italy."
" Oh ! he is going away, is he ? " said Neville.
" That alters the case materially. Is Nevinson a
sound man?"
" How can you ask ? " said Louis. " Besides,
surely I am as capable of guiding myself as
Nevinson is of guiding me. I see you have as
poor an opinion of my firmness as Hamilton."
" I was not thinking of your danger just then,"
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 339
replied Neville, " more than my own in a similar
case. I am always afraid of going into tempta-
tion ; but, of course, if you feel yourself led, then
you arc sal
Mrs. Mortimer asked to sec the letters.
" Trevamiion is obliged to leave in a fortnight,
and has very little time to look out for any one,"
said Louis, as his mother took one of the letters.
" Well, Louis."' said his father; "your friends
seem both very anxious to have you. I suppose
your an mast be speedy."
" Do you gee any objection, father?"
'• Not at present," said Mr. Mortimer, "if you
ut of the town. Mr. Trevamiion talks
of his home being at your service ; we must make
some inquiries about its situation, and so on. I
can see no other objection j but on the contrary
it seems rather desirable, especially as a little
harder work will be of service to you."
'■ \nd, papa, Louis really may do a great deal
of good there," said Freddy, " if Mr. Trevanuion's
so terribly high church/'
"True," said Mary; " he might. Do not you
think so, papa
"I hope so," said Mr. Mortimer, gravely. " He
must not forgei v, ho gives the increase. An old
ad of mine lives there, - Mr. Wells; you have
beavd of him. L shall write a line by to-day^
I inquire about the situation of tin- lleetory. and
. I npp se v. ill write to your friends, if yon
[i i you wish to proposition/'
340 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" I should like to go, father, as I must go from
home. It would do me good to be with Nevinson,
and then, if Mr. Wells is near, that will, I am sure,
he an inducement."
" By the bye, is he in the church, father ? w
" No," replied Mr. Mortimer ; " but he will be
as valuable an adviser out of it, Louis. He is many
years older than myself, and I have often profited
by his advice in bygone times, though it is many
a year since I saw him."
" I hope he may be a friend for me," said Louis.
" I wish we could have longer to think about
it," said Mrs. Mortimer. " Cannot you write
to-morrow, Louis ? "
" Indeed, dear mother, he wants an immediate
answer. He has so short a time to find a substi-
tute; you will see he is going abroad with his
uncle, who has been a father to him."
" Well, then, we must trust it will be for the
best," said Mrs. Mortimer cheerfully, as she rose
from the table.
The young people followed her example, and
stood round the fire talking of the proposed sepa-
ration, till a servant came to remove the breakfast
things, when Neville seized a book and sat down
to read, Mary produced some work, and Louis
went off to the Hectory to consult about some
parish matter with Mr. Phillips, and likewise to
unfold his new plans. He received the warmest
sympathy from his old tutor, with some reflections
on the benefit his ministry would be to Trevan-
DASHW00D PRIORY. 341
nion's benighted flock, which went the more to
Louis' heart, that encomiums were rare from
Mr. Phillips.
What mortal mind in its own strength could
escape scathless the many well-meant but injudi-
cious comments which reached Louis' cars from
all quarters on the benefit of his ministry?
Alas! the warm grateful hearts of the benefited
of a beloved pastor, forget too often his mortality ;
and none need more the prayers of his congrega-
tion than the idolized and successful preacher of
a crowded church. It needs great grace and
at experience to watch against all self-reliance,
and to east daily and hourly the whole glory at
the Saviour's feet ; and surely the young, placed
in a position in which they are often looked up to
for advice, by their superiors in everything but
that office, need to hang momentarily upon Him
who Lb able to make them to stand.
342 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
" For ye are yet carnal ; for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk
as men?" — 1 Cor. iii. 3.
About a fortnight after the arrival of Trevannion's
letter, Louis was on his way to his new duties.
Trevannion's parish was a thickly-populated dis-
trict, on the borders of a large town in shire.
The church was newly built, and endoAved by
Trevannion's father when the present incumbent
was but a boy, on condition that the first presenta-
tion should be reserved for him.
As Louis drew near his journey's end, the book
that had occupied him intensely for an hour pre-
viously was laid aside, and every way-mark care-
fully scrutinized. His fellow passengers came in
for a share of the scrutiny. Two middle-aged
ladies and a little boy occupied the opposite side
of the railway-carriage, and on his own side was
a benevolent-looking white-haired man, whose
gentlemanly contour and apparent absorption in
his pamphlet had, at first, rather more interest for
our hero than the more ordinary trio opposite.
He had however, made but a slight mental spe-
DASH WOOD PRIOKV.
culation on the probable characters and destini
of bis companions, when his attention was sud-
denly directed to the ladies' corner by the mention
of Novinson's name.
• Will Mr. Xevinson take all the duty now :''
asked one lady.
" I really don't know. If he has strength, I
suppose he will ; but it is a heavy duty for one,"
replied the other.
" You have never been in his church?" asked
the first speaker.
' ar, no," replied the other : " I would far
rather go to a dissenting chapel than enter one of
those Poseyite places."
"Well, really," rejoined her friend, "I see
harm in going to morning prayers there: thi
cannot alter them, and thev are beautifully done
and such >iugiug ! I always went to afterno
prayer^ there, when I was staying with the Price-.
'• What a shame, to be sure, that that larg
district should have been promised to that boy,
before any one could know what he would tu
out!"
"It is: now, if Mr. Strangeways had it — "
" i 1 -Mr. Strangeways
. : I wonderful preacher ; ai
young, too; not above thirty, 1 I).
" Mr. Nevinaon is quite a j 1 n i, if I
'.'ai the other.
"Yes, and some of the peo] qd to like hi
! r than Mr. Ti -
344 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
vannion. But it is strange how beguiling the
manners of that party generally are."
"Well, I remember," rejoined her friend,
" that the poor spoke very well of Mr. Nevinson.
I cannot help hoping well of him. I met him
once out, and certainly was charmed with the
sweetness and piety of his manners. Can such a
man be really far wrong? His life is a living
epistle." '
The old gentleman here lifted his head, and
spoke earnestly, —
"I am afraid we must not trust it, ma'am,
where it is connected with so much soul-destroying
error. Even Satan can transform himself into an
angel of light."
The lady who favoured Nevinson looked rather
distrustfully at the speaker. She compressed her
lips for a minute, and then turning to her friend,
who appeared to be on friendly terms with him,
from the readv smile with which she received his
speech, and the apparent answer she was about to
make, continued, without giving her time to
speak, —
"My idea of Mr. Nevinson was a good deal
confirmed by a short conversation I once over-
heard. I was caught in a shower of rain, without
an umbrella, one day during my last visit, and
stood under an archway in Porter-street, where
one or two people were standing. A little merry-
looking old woman, with a basket, was very close
to me, and had apparently just recognized an old
I.WOOD PBIOBY. 3 15
friend, with whom she was holding an animated
conversation, as I found, on the subject of church-
going. ' "Well/ said her friend, ' I never seed you
at church last Sunday/ ' jN t o,' said the basket-
woman ; ' the thing is, you see, I went and heerd
Mr. Xevison/ ' Law, and did 'e though ? But
isn't that un a Puscy, Mrs. Groves ?' 'Oh, well,
some folks call him a Pusey ; but that's nought
to me. lie's a good man, and not a bit of pride
in him ; if Mr. Nerison is Puscy, all I can say
is, I wish all the world was Puseys. He's got
heaven in his face and in his talk, and a'most
wears hisself out for poor folks.'"
" I am afraid you are half Pusey yourself," said
the other, laughing. "Do you know Mr. Ncvin-
son, Mr. Wells?" she asked of the old gentleman.
" I believe not."
Louis turned quickly round, and met the old
man's eyes iixed on him. He coloured, and looked
again out of the window. Mr. Wells replied
that he did not, "but that the sooner such men
as he and Mr. Trcvannion went to Rome, the
better; their insinuating manners only making
them more dangerous."
"Do you know who is to supply Mr. Trevan-
nion's place for the next six month- ?" inquired
the lady.
"A Mr. Mortimer, from Norfolk," replied the
gi nt Ionian.
"St. Margaret gets all the fine names/ 1 said
the other laily, laughing.
34G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Do you know if he is a true man, Mr. Wells?"
"1 am afraid, my dear madam/ 5 replied the
gentleman, politely ; " you can't expect much
from Mr. Trevannion. Mr. Mortimer is a very
young man; but I trust he may be right and
true. He comes from a good stock, though
reared in that hot-bed of Arminianism, Oxford/ 5
" It will be a blessing to the parish, if he prove
efficient,' 5 replied the lady.
The old gentleman did not seem inclined to
continue the conversation. He had again fastened
his eyes on his pamphlet, and was quietly en-
snaring the child to his side by some talismanic
signals with his fingers, and a paper of barley-
sugar which appeared very mysteriously from some
pocket. The child very soon changed his place,
and Louis was beginning to warm a little to the
lover of children, when at this moment the train
arrived at the station, and being near the door,
Louis jumped out, politely waiting to assist the
ladies. Mr. Wells came last, and to him our
hero left the office of assisting them further ; and
proceeding to the luggage-van, he at length dis-
covered, among the trunks and portmanteaus
mercilessly flung on the platform, his own share
of its contents. He had, furthermore, just made
the discovery, that Mr. Wells's acquaintance was
a Mrs. Wybrow, from the labelling of some huge
trunks claimed by her, when a gentleman rapidly
approached, and almost before he could recognize
him, exclaimed, —
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 'j17
" Mortimer ! how arc you? I was very nearly
too late."
"Nevinson ! This is kind, to meet me here in
this strange land/' replied Louis, warmly return-
ing his hearty grasp of the hand.
" I have a fly outside ; Ave will not waste any
more time; I am longing to get you home."
His luggage was quickly carried off by the fly-
man who accompanied Nevinson, and forgetting
at once all his curiosity about Mr. Well-. Louis
followed ; not, however, before he had heard Mrs.
Wybrow remark to her friend, "I declare that's
new curate. Thcv seem great friends."
Louis followed his friend with a heightened
colour and a smile on his face down the staircase
that led to the road. At the bottom their way
was obstructed by people clamorous for convey-
ances; and while waiting here for a fly to drive
up, Mr. Wells briskly descended the stairs, and
anced to Louis.
* Ali ! and so you are Mr. Mortimer himself?"
he said, holding out his hand. " I hope you have
left your father well. I am glad to see you here,
none the less that you have heard yourself talked
he addi 1, with a .mile. " Now, tell me how
Our father. 1 wanted you to come to me.
Mi. ! Bee," he continued, "your friend is im-
nt. I won't detain you. od willing, 1
II call on you on Monday ; and you musi con-
your home ; come in and go oul
when you Life . Via eh V"
348 DASHWOOD FltlOKY.
Louis supposing the last query to refer to his
place of abode, hastily answered in the affirmative,
and with a warm grasp of the hand, the old man
released him.
" I told Trevannion you would spend a few days
with me/' said Nevinson, when they were alone in
the fly ; " and you must not refuse, for we have a
bed, and so much to tell you. You have not seen
Ella yet ; and in fact everything is new, and I
know interesting."
Nevinson was so hearty and happy, that Louis
felt his fatigues almost over. He made many
inquiries about his friend's home, and one or two
about Mr. Wells. Nevinson pointed out a large
mansion in the distance as Ivy lands, and answered
all his queries fully ; but there was a little con-
straint visible in his manner of speaking of Mr.
Wells, for which Louis was not at much loss to
account, after the conversation he had overheard ;
and he was a little struck with the gentle, kind
tone in which Nevinson told him that Mr. Wells
was a good man and very earnest, never even in-
ferring by any expression that a difference of
opinion existed between them. Louis, however,
noticed the searching and almost sorrowful ex-
pression of his large dark eyes as he concluded,
and immediately changed the subject. At last
the fly stopped at a pretty cottage, scarcely out of
the town. It was too dusk to distinguish details,
but Louis saw there was a little garden, and
walked on a gravel path round a small lawn to
DASHWOOD PKIOBY. 349
the house' door, which was wide open, and beyond
on one side of the hall an inner door like* i
whence glowed the firelight very invitingly.
Nevinson rapidly led his friend through the latter
into a comfortable room, something between a
library and drawing-room, where a blazing fire
and a warm welcome awaited him. Mrs. Nevinson,
a lady-like young woman, stood near the door to
greet her husband's friend, and performed her
part with a grace and friendliness that made the
id at home.
' Ella knows you very well, Mortimer/' said
rinsonj "she has been quite looking forward
to this meeting, and yon have often heard of her."
" We an- mutually gratified, I am sure/' said
the lady. "You must be cold, Mr. .Mortimer;
travelling is always very cold. I have ordered a
tire in your room. 1 hope Henry has persuaded
you to remain with us till Mr. Trevannion's
departur
• 'i ou are very kind, indeed," replied Louis; "it
will be :t very greal pleasure to me."
fcer so long ;<. separation, you mus1 both have
10 much to say; those numberless little things
that ii. ..r can be told in ;. letter. We aw both
glad you have consented to take Mr. Tn-
ronnion'a duty; it was so exactly whal Henry
irished."
■Mi ■■!■ a little more talk, Nevinson led the way
he aea1 little bedroom thai bad been prepared
tar In- reception. Here was an easj chair turned
350 DASHWOOD PRIOHY.
towards tlic fire, and near it a little table with,
inkstand, portfolio, and paper, and a small kettle
of boiling water was on the fire. Everything
seemed to be most carefully and kindly arranged
for his comfort.
" Our accommodations are very small," said
Nevinson, as he placed the candle on the dressing-
table ; " but you know, a little where love is — "
" How kindly you have been thinking of me ! "
said Louis, gratefully. " I did not expect such a
welcome at my journey's end."
"What did you expect, then?" replied Nevin-
son, happily. "Do you see anything down-stairs
of the old rooms at college, Mortimer ? "
" Your favourite colour," replied Louis ; " that
comfortable red."
" Ella and I, you know, are obliged to study
economy ; we are not overflowing with riches, and
I need not say to you how much a clergyman has
to do with his superfluous money ; so when we
furnished, we got those plain substantial articles
which would wear and look most comfortable at
the least cost ; and I knew of old how well my old
curtains and carpets wore, and how snug that old j
room looked to the last. I think I need not ask I
you how you like my Ella."
" No," answered Louis ; " there can be but one !
opinion."
"It is too soon to judge," said Nevinson. "I
am too impatient; but I will defy your closest j
criticism. ' The heart of her husband doth safely
DAS II WOOD PRIOllY. 351
:rust in her, and her price is far above rubies.'
But I will leave you now: dinner will soon be
read}-. \Yc have a late one to-day in lionour of
pou. I have another treasure to show yet."
Louis was soon ready; and when he left his
room, he found his host within earshot, for he
him directly, and led him to a room on the
3pposite side of the landing. Here everything
ikened a nursery; — a small tent bed in the
Dornerofthe room, a cradle in another corner,
md a respectable-looking young woman work'
xt a little frock near the table, all scrupulously
led the way quickly, but very softly,
bed. On the outside, covered over with a
bawl, his little rosy face resting on a
linj tl hand, his long dark lash contrasting beau-
os1 his fair cheek, lay a cherub baby
[ p, as if he had been tired out with play.
N( irinson held the candle above him, and looked
D with unutterable love, as if he had for.
tie had brought i.i
•,i. what a treasure ! — what a lovely child ! "
i. ois. "You may be proud of that
i. Do not you feel \ aid of
h
• .1 proud" said N in, very
••II rift that comet h from the
■1 my I [eavenly Father
me. My own one/' In- ad l< the bal
. lil'tt d !ii. r\ elid . and turned
35,2 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
his round, full dark eyes on the stranger wonder-
ingly. " Take the candle, nurse."
Nurse relieved her master, and meeting the
outstretched arms of his first-born, he lifted him
from the bed.
" This wasn't your sleepy time, my boy. Was
he tired with play ? What, a loving kiss for
papa ? " he added, as the beauteous child threw
his little fat arms round his father, and with open
lips pressed a kiss on his cheek.
Louis stood an admiring spectator, wdien the
child's attention was attracted by another sight
behind his father, and his arms were once more
extended with an eager cry, while his whole coun-
tenance lighted up with excitement and anima-
tion, as his mother drew near him, the flush of
recent sleep adding such a radiancy of loveliness
as a painter would have delighted in. Mrs. Nevin-
son looked at Louis for admiration, and was quite
satisfied with the wrapt smile she saw, and as if
transported, she seized the little naked foot that
had lost its shoe, and kissed it over and over
again ; then taking the child from her husband,
she laughed with it from very happiness. Dinner
was announced, and with a fond kiss the precious
one was delivered to his nurse, and Louis led
Mrs. Nevinson to her little dining-room. The
evening was spent very happily. They were lively
and unreserved ; but that which delighted Louis
most was the deep, unaffected, cheerful piety that
breathed in all his friends said or did, and the
DASHWOOD PKIORT. 353
beautiful spirit of charity which characterized all
their mention of those of whom they spoke, even
though, in many eases, they might differ widely
in sentiment, it was natural and necessary that
Louis should hear much of persons on his arrival
in a strange place, where he was to be so much
connected with the same ; but Ncvinson always
seemed to know the good, and never to — the
evil.
As Louis bid his hosts good night, after the
little hallowed worship of the evening, he thought
much of that word which says, '• Charity thinkcth
no evil, vaunteth not herself, seeketh not her own,
believeth all things, hopeth all thin
The next day was Sunday, and early in the
morning a gentle tinkling of the many bells in
various parts of the town awakened our hero.
Though it was not daylight, he rose and dressed,
and remained in his room till he supposed it might
hi- near breakfast-time. lie found his friend
taking off bis great coat in the hall, while through
the open dour of the adjacent sitting-room be
saw that Mrs. Nevinson's breakfast preparations
seemed in a state of readim
•■ Have you been out already?" asked Louis,
when the first greetings were out.
"We have early prayers at -even on Sundays,"
replied Nevinson, "and at eight o'clock every
othei day."
■• Why did you not tell me so last night? 1
should have helped you."
2 i
354 BASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Not after your long journey/' said Nevinson,
leading him in to breakfast ; " you will soon begin
in good earnest.'*
At a quarter past nine Louis set out with his
host and hostess. He was to meet his rector in
the vestry, and both his friends were bound for
the Sunday school.
" We shall meet at church/' said Louis, as they
parted near the church.
"You will meet me/' said Nevinson. "Ella
always allows nurse to go in the morning, and
stays at home with baby. We have three services,
beside early prayers."
Louis was left alone at the door of the church,
almost without understanding that he had arrived
there, so intently had he been conversing with his
friend, and therefore, being close to the building,
was not fully aware of the extreme beauty of its
outward proportions, but that of the interior
almost startled him.
The church had been built only a few years, and
was radiant with new stonework of a first-rate
description. No expense had been spared to render
it, as far as man's hands could render it, a fitting
temple for the worship of the triune Jehovah. Over
the inner door of the porch, into which Louis en-
tered, in red and black letters was the text, ■" This
is the house of God ; this is none other than the
gate of heaven." And as he passed through the
beautifully-wrought bronze gates that formed this
second portal, an unbroken line of clustering
DA8HWOOD PKIORY. 355
pillars and graceful arches of the Decorated style,
charmed his eye. The groined roof and rich
windows, with their flowing tracery and coloured
glass, the illumined texts here and there, where
they could be placed without damage to the
uniformity of the edifice, all added in forming
one whole, that charmed his senses and impressed
him with a sense of deep solemnity.
A pew-opener, who was sitting near the door,
rose on Louis' entra Ld on his inquiring for
Trevannion, led him up the south aisle to the
further end, where, matching a screen which con-
cealed the organ in the north aisle, was the vestry.
She knocked at the door, and on the answering,
" Come in," opened it and left Louis to himself.
He now found himself in a comfortable little room,
very like other vestries, lighted by a circular
window, on which was painted a cross surmounted
by a crown, and over the mantel-pii ce was a large
framed engraving of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last
Supper." There were one or two richly-carved
oak chairs with crimson seats, and on one of these,
Dear the fire, with a table at one side, sat Trevan-
nion, Leaning pen in hand in a graceful attitude
at a manuscript, — a Bible and Concordance lay
beside. He raised bis bead as the door opened,
and then advancing a few steps, be welcomed
I . wis with an exl reme courtesy and refinement of
manner, thai set him at once perfectly at his ea
and. yet expressed aa utile as was consistenl with
their former degree of friendship. Louis was
:.' i '2
35G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
accommodated with a chair on the opposite iside
of the fire, and after all proper inquiries about his
health and journey, Trevannion easily diverged
into his satisfaction at seeing Louis, and his plans
and wishes during his absence, and Louis at length
gathered from his discourse, that he was particu-
larly anxious to have the service very carefully
done, especially the singing, and that he was ex-
ceedingly rejoiced to get a gentleman to fill his
place.
" I am desirous not to disgust the people, Mr.
Mortimer. We have had a very thin congregation,
owing, I imagine, to the very uncomfortable way
in which the church was pewed. I have been at
considerable expense to remedy this defect, and as
you see, have had open benches to replace the old
pews, and have also at length obtained, I believe,
a good organist ; but not being a musician, I have
not been able to superintend this part of the
service at all. I expect," he added, with a smile,
" that you Avill have all that in splendid training
when I return."
As he spoke he rose, and throwing open the
door, led Louis once more into the church towards
the communion-table. A beautiful oak screen
separated the chancel from the body of the church.
Trevannion opened a gate in one of the side-
screens, and led Louis within this spot, which
seemed to be considered so sacred. On either
side were stalls for the choristers, and raised four
steps was an altar-piece, surrounded with a carved
DASIIWOOU PRIORY. • >■'/
oak railing. The table of carved stone bore two
massive silver candlesticks, each with its lighted
taper ; and on each side of it were two splendid
chairs. Behind the table rose the stonework, on
which were illumined the Ten Commandments, the
Belief, and Lord's Prayer, in four arches ; and still
higher, partially shaded by a crimson curtain, a
■^eous window, portraying the Last Supper:
above were the words " Hoc est corpus meum."
Louis was almost struck dumb for a minute ; he
looked gravely at the show. He had never been
within a Romish chapel, but he fancied it must
look something like this.
'• It is very beautiful," he said at last. "Do
you have cathedral service here?"
" 1 wish it much/' replied Trcvannion ; "but nei-
ther Nevinson nor I can intone. You will be able."
Louis shook his head.
•• Nay. but T know \ou can, and lam sure vou
ve too much desire to do all honour to the
hip of the Almighty not to attempt it."
solemn reverential manner in which Tre-
nion spoke, made Louis look at him. His
_e dark eyes seemed lighted with a fire of
enthusiasm.
"Yon need no' attempt just at present," he
added, gently. " U e can talk to-night more about
•hi ae arrangements. 1 am sun- we shall all work
ether j the Church needs unity, Mr. Mortimer.
Then are tOO many distractions and schism-
alr< ; tlv within her. - '
358 DASHWOOD PRIOEY.
There was a little pause ; Louis felt there was
much of which he disapproved ; but as nothing
very objectionable had been started, he could not
attack, and so remained silent, — so grave, and
apparently so absorbed in the inspection of the
mosaic pavement on which he stood, that he did
not notice the keen curious gaze Trevannion fixed
on him, as if he wished to read all his mind.
He presently informed Louis that the window was
presented by himself, in memory of his father,
and when Louis had sufficiently admired it, he
kindly asked him to read prayers that morning,
and informed him that the remainder of the day
would be entirely at his disposal.
"You will like to see something of the new
place and its churches, and after this day, I am
afraid you will have no time. We shall be able
to do without you to-day."
Louis thanked him, and began to sav that he
did not wish to take that day for a survev of the
town, when Trevannion, asking him to excuse his
abstraction, returned to the vestrv and resumed
his labour of correction. Louis had a short time
for thought while his friend was engaged; but his
mind was sadly startled, shocked, and interested.
He had imagined before his arrival how much he
should do and say in opposition to Trevannion's
errors ; but as yet they had only taken him by
surprise, and he was dumb.
Before long the bells began to ring, and Tre-
vannion soon laid aside his work, and talked to
]>\M1\V00D PIUOKY. 350
Louis about the vicarage and other indifferent
topics, as if it had been any other day, till the
sexton came in to help him with his vestments.
Nevinson came in at the same time, and exactly
as the clod, struck eleven, the three clergymen in
their surplices entered the church; the beadle
and '\ton preceded them with wands, and open-
a gate of the screen, with much ceremony
ushered them to their places in the chancel, while
from the other side poured in twelve chorister
boys and five or six laymen, likewise in surplices.
Louis thought he must have mistaken his way,
and hesitating as the beadle stood back to let
him step into one of the stalls, whispered some-
thing about the reading-desk. The man bowed low,
and still pointed to the desk before him. Louis
saw Bible and Praver-book before him, and
red. As lie rose from his knees, he glanced
at Trcvannion and Nevinson, but their composed
countenances said all was right; and with some
little nervous feeling, he stood up and looked
through the carved screen at the congregation,
tnd wondered how they would hear his voice.
V» hen the fine tones of the organ had nearly
away, the boys Middenly broke into, " I will
ari The eil'eet was solemnly beautiful j Louis
joined, and when it was concluded was sufficiently
Composed to read the I >.hoitat ion Calmly through,
though he found it aecessarj to exi rl his \oice
far more than he had e\er ilonr in hi- own little
village church.
3G0 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
As the service proceeded, Louis grew more and
more at his ease ; the sweet words he had prayed
from his childhood seemed to re-assure him, and
before long, he hardly noticed the strange faint
glare of the large candles, burning in the
coloured daylight on the table, and was only
impressed solemnly by the varied rays from the
gorgeous window, the exclusiveness of the par-
titioned chancel, and the beautiful singing ; while
he who had intended to stand so prominently in
opposition to the forms and ceremony of Trevan-
nion's party, turned to the east with clergy and
choristers, almost ere he had thought whether it
was wrong or right ; and comforted himself that
it was " a matter of no consequence ; it was cus-
tomary in cathedrals." What does the Holy word
say ? " He that despiseth little things, shall fall
by little and little." Trevannion, still arrayed in
his surplice and holding his cap in his hand,
entered the pulpit. The cap was laid down on
the cushion, and leaning gracefully against the
pillar that supported the pulpit, with arms slightly
folded, he gave forth a flowing moral harangue
for twenty minutes, when, advancing to the front,
he spread his arms around and pronounced the
final benediction in a very papal manner. Louis
had listened very eagerly for the love of Christ,
but he listened in vain : he longed to go up and
speak for the Saviour's honour, for his heart
burned within him; and when they left the
church, he walked silently home with Nevinson,
DASIIWOOI) PRIORY. 3G1
only replying to his remarks by monosyllables.
As soon as he entered the house he rushed up-
stairs, and remained in his room till dinner. He
- agitated and distressed, and hardly seemed to
know how or what to ask ; but the silent distress-
ful breathing oi" the Christian is never unnoticed.
Even when he thinks he cannot pray, he often
prays the more effectually.
V vinson seemed rather anxious to know Louis'
impression of the whole, and after several leading
irks and questions, Louis replied, —
" I don't like everything : the church is very
ii' autiful; but I wish the reading-desk were more
ong the congregation, I think they can hardly
hear."
•• Oh yes, perfectly well," replied Nevinson,
with a slight colour. " There was a reading-desk
on a line with the pulpit formerly, but Mr. Tre-
nnion altered the arrangement j and 1 agree
with him that it is in better keeping, though 1
had some dislike to the idea at first."
" But why, Nevinson, why does Trevannion
have those candles lighted ? I could have thought
elf in a Romish shrine."
■ My dear Mortimer," replied Nevinson, " why
uld we reject what is admirable in the ( 'atholic,
because he is a Catholic? We are in far more
danger of allowing holy places to be desecrated,
a of attending too much to their lawful adorn-
menl
lis looked full at Nevinson, i\nd said," I
36.2 PASHW00D PRIORY.
think there is one great mistake in your theory.
You forget that, now we are not under the
Jewish dispensation, there is now no Holy of Holies
on earth, — that priests are no longer to make
prayers for the people in a covered sanctuary,
while the congregation stand without, and wait
the efficacy of the prayers they never hear. St.
Paul warns his converts against praying in an
unknown tongue : ' Else, when thou shalt bless
with the Spirit, how shall he that occupieth the
room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving
of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what
thou sayest ? For thou verily givest thanks well,
but the other is not edified.' Now I cannot see
much difference between praying in an unknown
tongue, and praying where the people cannot hear
at all, or very imperfectly. The Ptomanists, whom
I do not with vou call Catholics, brim? the ex-
ample of the Jewish ceremonies forward in defence
of mumbling their Latin mass, and I cannot help
thinking there is something akin to their super-
stitions in these things/'
"You will not think so soon, I hope/' said
Nevinson ; " it takes you by surprise now, and
appears Avorse than it is. However, I do not
approve of the candles at all myself, so we are as
agreed there as I think we shall soon be on other
points, if, indeed, we quarrel now about more than
words."
They did not resume the subject, which Mrs.
Nevinson changed immediately her husband had
DASI1WOOD PRIORY. 3G3
spoken. Louis inquired about some of the churches
in the neighbourhood, and set out after dinner to
one recommended ; but finding, as he anticipated,
that the service bore much resemblance to that in
Trevannion's church, he determined to choose for
himself in the evening.
Accordingly, after tea, he asked the way to the
church in which Mr. Strangeways preached ; and,
in answer to his host's rather anxious queries as
to where he heard of him, he simply replied he
had heard him spoken of in the train.
" You will not admire him much, I fancy,"
said Nevinson, quietly, as he parted from him at
the garden-gate, after giving him the necessary
directions; "but perhaps it may be as well you
should hear him for yourself."
Louis soon reached the chapel of ease to which
he was directed, and was shown into a pew with
Mrs. Wybrow. His heart had been aching and
restless during the day; but here it seemed to
attain its usual quiet. It was like home. Not
an ornament, — not a boss or carving to catch the
eye Mas there. It was a plain square church,
built almost on the model of a dissenting chapel,
with huge square galleries and straight gaslights,
but comfortable and warm, and full in crowding.
There was plain, unpretending congregational
Mii_ni!_ r , in which all seemed to .join. Louis'
heart and voice went alike in the glorioufl lmnn, —
' .1 -h.-ill r. 'in
Does his successive- journ< yi run."
361 DASHWOOD PRIORY
Hardly ever had church service seemed so sweet
to him ; the unity, the harmony, the warmth of
spirit that seemed to pervade the assembly was
most delightful, especially when contrasted with
the cold solemnity and stateliness of the beautiful
morning exhibition ; and yet, when our hero, with
his romantic ideas and refined taste, saw the plain
unpromising-looking young man who filled the
reading-desk, and heard his harsh voice and
slightly common accent, perceptible when he
began to read, he could hardly imagine this could
be the popular man who would have been the
proper incumbent of Trevannion's church. He
changed his mind a little as the service proceeded ;
there was so much feeling in the manner in which
the lessons were read and the hymn given out,
that his surprise was modified when he saw the
same individual mount the pulpit stairs ; and
here all provincial accent, all inequalities of voice,
all ungainliness of person, were alike forgotten.
Louis' heart only swelled with the music of the
message which the gifted preacher delivered, as
though his soul were indeed in it, his pale coun-
tenance glowing with ardour, his tone filling with
enthusiasm. Louis confessed no common mind was
there. The text was, "There is one God and one
Mediator between God and man, the man Christ
Jesus." Louis sat with Avrapt gaze fixed on the
preacher. He had thought his father perfec-
tion, but eloquence like this he had never heard
before., and he rejoiced both for himself and others
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 365
that such a man had been raised up to preach
folly the unsearchable riches of Christ. There
v. ere some allusions to the dangerous and melan-
choly doctrines disseminated in the town ; but
though boldly refuted, there was no rancour ex-
pressed against persons : it was but sorrow of
heart and pious anger that men should dare to
take anything from the perfect finished work of
Christ. Louis wondered as the preacher burned
with holy zeal for the honour of his Lord, and his
heart melted a the voice quivered with emotion
in deploring the fatal errors around them. That
emed like a dream of bliss only too
short ; he would have listened all night ; but the
icluding hymn was sung, the blessing given,
and the congregation poured out ; and after
-ting the lady in whose pew he sat to replace
the hooks, he left the pew, only too glad thai
he was alone, and might be silent. He walked
llowly home, and found Trcvannion sitting with
his friends.
"Well, have you made the most of your time?"
i Trcvannion. "Where have you been, and
what have \ on seen this evening?"
Louis informed him; and very repugnant to
him was the look of intense hatred and BCOTD
Trevannion's face assumed at the mention of
^\Ir. Stranj»eways' name, as he drawled out
haughtily,—
" Well, and what did the young Calvini t saj .'
^ ou know whom you hav< I - oppose now , ,J
366 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Oppose ! " said Louis. " He is a very fine
preacher."
Trevannion crimsoned, and replied, —
" He hates me, and you, and Nevinson, with a
perfect hatred, — as intensely as I despise him."
He rose up, and wishing the friends good night,
departed, after expressing, rather abruptly, a hope
that he should see Louis to-morrow, when they
would more definitely settle their affairs.
DASHWOOD PBIOBT. 3G7
CHAPTER XXIV.
•' Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To hi-:
own master lie standeth or l'alleth." — Rom. xiv. 4.
" The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
— Jamea i.
We do not mean to attempt to account for Tre-
vannion's anxiety to obtain Louis.' services, nor
for the fact that, with views so diametricallv
opposite, the two clergymen came to any agrce-
nt. Some hinted that Trevannion wanted a
musical curate, and knowing something of Louis'
natural character, trusted to time to effect what
he required in one; and others, that Louis, dis-
armed by the caution and Jiaesse of his old school-
fellow, and haunted by his dangerous love of
praise, which Trevannion fostered, forgot to
declare openly, in tiie short time he had with his
rector, his decided abhorrence of the Lengths to
which Trevannion's superstition carried him. Be
this how it may, matters came to an amicable
settlement ; and Trevannion, trusting to his eeelc-
jtical machinery and Nevinson's influence, left
In- charge to Louis the Tuesday after hi- arrival.
In the afternoon of the same day Mr. W
called on Louis. The interview was short; but
368 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
from the few words that passed, Louis was pre-
pared to revere and look up to his father's friend
as an experienced Christian, able, under God, to
guide and strengthen his hands ; and he accepted
with sincere pleasure an invitation from him to
dinner on the following day.
On reaching Ivylands at the appointed hour on
Wednesday, Louis was shown into the drawing-
room, where he was warmly and courteously
received by Mr. Wells, and introduced to his
daughter, and subsequently to three lady visitors,
in one of whom he recognised Mrs. Wybrow, and
in another his friend Salisbury's sister Fanny.
Miss Salisbury and our hero were mutually
pleased at the unexpected rencontre, and as Louis
had many questions to ask about his old school-
fellow, only stern duty prevented his stationing
himself by the youngest lady in the house. Miss ;
Wells, however, engrossed his first civilities ; but |
these were soon interrupted by the announcement
of another visitor, and Mr. Strangeways entered,
and directly afterwards the partj r went in to dinner. I
As Mr. Wells led off the two elder ladies and
Mr. Strangeways was honoured with the lady of
the house, our hero had the satisfaction of leading
in Miss Salisbury, and very adroitly managed to
obtain two or three pieces of information about !
her brothers, before they were well seated at table. '■
The soup was hardly served, when Miss Wells
asked him what he thought of the town? what i
he had seen of it ? whether he thought the air
DASHWOOS PRIORY. 369
relaxing? and so on, and Lonis detailed for her
benefit his general impressions of the whole,
especially as compared with the country; and
concluded bv alluding slightly, though feelingly.
to the advantage he considered he had de-
rived from Mr. Strangeways' sermon on Sunday
evening.
■' What, then, vou were one of Mr. Strange-
ways' hearers last Sunday?" said Mr. Wells, who
had caught a word or two of his remark. " How
came that?"
There was a pleased, bright expression in Mr.
Wells's face as he spoke, and he looked quite affec-
tionately at his young guest, as he replied, —
" I had heard of Mr. Strangeways, and easily dis-
covered where 1 should find him. It was like home
to hear Christ so fully preached. I have wished
to thank you for that sermon, sir," he added,
meeting the pleased glauce of the clergyman
opposite to him.
Mr. Straugeways warmly expressed hi^ satis-
faction that they should be of the same mind ;
■Bd Mr. Wells added, —
"I am glad to hear you say that, my friend.
mc your father has begun at the beginning;
thing but bread will do for the children, they
cannot be satisfied with a stone : I bope you will
bold; you have a responsible situation now in
that benighted parish."
w It quite rejoiced me to see Mr. Mortimer at
hurcli on Sundav," said Mrs. Wybrow, "Vou
S D
370 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
know/' she added, with a little smile at Louis,
" we are all a little afraid of Mr. Trevarmion's
parish."
Louis bowed gravely, with a slight expression
of displeasure at the allusion to Trevannion ; and
the lady perceiving it, changed the subject, by
proceeding to inform Miss Wells of the amusing
rencontre she and her friend had had with Mr.
Mortimer, and their great delight on hearing
Mr. Strangeways, and the immense advantage his
ministry was ; and the conversation turned upon
the neighbouring clergymen ; and from this time,
Louis, who had before rejoiced in the thought
of the sweet counsel they were to take together
that evening, and the refreshment and the advan-
tage such conversation must be, heard nothing but
histories of this and that person, interspersed
with such ejaculations as, "rank Puseyite!"
"rank Tractarian !" " rank Arminian \" " set of
Freewillers \" and remarks about such a one
being "very dubious;" and such another, not
" understanding the truth ;" and another, not
preaching it ; but of that truth Louis heard
nothing, of the power of that truth he saw
nothing, and he judged accordingly; hastily, as
man will judge when he leans upon his own
judgment. He had* yet to learn, though he I
thought he knew it, that there are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit. He had yet to learn
the force of that inquiry, "Who art thou that
judgest another man's servant ?" He had vet to
-
DA8HW00D PKIOUV.
learn that the proportion of faith, the power ol
ech, the degree of love, differ in God's people,
they are His children. We know not, when
we condemn the evil-speaking of another, how,
baps, that offender, deeply humbled at the
remembrance of the sin in which he or she has
indulged, may long kneel before the Almighty
God with that prayer, " Set a watch, O Lord,
before my mouth, keep the door of my lips."
Yet Louis afterwards learned one great lesson
from this, — that the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God. " It is good to be always
lously affected in a good cause," and to lift up
the voice against the evil ; but when Mr. Wells and
Mr. Strangeways indulged in this religious gossip
(for it was no better), they little knew the harm
they did to the very cause they sought to ad-
vance ; how their young friend silently listened,
v wearied and disgusted, and finally, all the in-
dignant feeling which had been roused during the
Conversation in the railway-carriage was predomi-
nant, and he felt inclined to cast his lot in with the
despised and vilified party. II is lip curled with
scorn as he repeated t<> himself, "Nevinson shows
his faith by his works. Mis is the religi .1 that
Iteth OOl it-elf, and thinketh no evil.'' He
heard much of " false charity;" and the thought
passed across his mind, " hut the 1 use is
no charity at all ;" and he rOM from in- chair 'I'he
sain:' conversation was resumed on their return to
the drawing-room, t<> n hich they very soon followed
9 i' 2
372 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
the ladies ; and after listening silently for a short
time, during his necessary operation of drinking
coffee, he withdrew from the talkers, and took a
seat near Fanny Salisbury, who was knitting at
the table, away from the lady with whom she
came, and scarcely raised her eyes or changed her
position.
" You are are not much interested in the dis-
cussion, Miss Fanny," he said.
" No, I am not," she replied, raising her eyes
to him. " Are vou ? "
There was a very significant glance between
them, and a slight smile curled the corners of
Fanny's mouth.
" I do not call it a discussion, because every one
is of the same opinion, which is, that every one
is bad but the good and true."
She spoke in a very low voice, but so archly
that Louis smiled.
" And who are the good and true ? " he said.
" I need not tell you," she replied. " They
who know ' the truth fully,' I suppose. As for
the others," she added, very gravely, " there are
some who would quench the smokiug flax, and
tread down the bruised reed in contempt."
Louis looked surprised, and spoke with greater
interest.
" It will seem strange to you, perhaps," he said,
" but to say the truth, I have had but little ex-
perience in doctrinal differences, knowing, I believe,
that there are such things as Arminianism aad
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 373
Calvinism, and perhaps able to give a categorical
definition of each ; hut I thought all true Chris-
tians believed their Bibles ; that the truth was to
know the love of Chrisl and His perfect and all-
sufficient work."
"You have been very happy, then," said Fanny.
knitting away \cvy fast. " What a pity any one
should know anything else; and how strange
that 1 should have heard more than you ; but
lly, if faith went with man's teaching, I should
believe nothiug now. I have been assailed in turn
by High and Low Church, Dissenters, Romanists,
and Unitarians."
" And how have you come out '.' "
'■ You ask that?" said Fanny, lifting her eyes
in almost reproachfully. "Mr. Mortimer, does
not God make a way to escape — always?' 5
' Indeed he does, Miss Fanny," said Louis,
wrly; " and yet — how strange that many of the
ere should fall into error."
'• Ah! now you are going beyond mej perhaps
they do not look for the way. There seems to me
i [ ■ ■. post."
' Let me hear what," said Louis.
-The w noi.i Bible," Baid Fanny. ' You will
think mc ven presumptuous, I am afraid, Mr.
Mortimer," she said, shyly, during the pause thai
•nsued. " I am tOO independent tor a young lady,
. :n afraid."
" l'resiiinpt uou-," repealed Louis. "Oh,no!
only thinking with some astonishment how
374 dasiiwood priory.
you have come in contact with all these different
persuasions you speak of."
" I am now visiting a Roman Catholic aunt/'
replied Fanny, " and her father confessor assails
me very often ; but I do not find anything there
very formidable, Mr. Mortimer. He trusts to
stupify, not to convince ; he talks of essences, and
iddities, and quiddities, and oddities, and monods, or
nomads, — I don't know what any of them mean, —
and tells me of the ' authority of a church,' I only
find mentioned in Revelations, and there we know
how ; and I think of something else, or laugh at
him. There is no Bible there at all, so I do not
feel in any danger ; nor have I felt in any danger
from Unitarians. As Dr. Arnold says, it is like
touching a corpse, so cold, so lifeless, it always
makes me shudder. I had a Unitarian school-
fellow, poor girl. But you know, Mr. Mortimer,
a child with a Bible may upset a Unitarian or a
Romanist ; and of the two, the last is the best."
" It always seems to me," said Louis, " that
that dreadful Socinian doctrine is one that does
not admit of the slightest outward fellowship.
You remember what St. John says, ' If there come
any unto us, and bring not the doctrine of Christ,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed,
is partaker of his evil deeds.' "
" I have not noticed that," replied Fanny. " It
is very solemn."
" ' Have no fellowship with the works of dark-
DASHWOOD PRIORY. .,, .>
is the command. TVe are certainly too apt
to be careless of God's honour in matters of social
intercourse."
"The only perplexing differences to me," said
Fanny seriously, " arc those among Bible Chris-
tians. Where the Bible is brought forward, I
sometimes feel very doubtful, now leaning to one
and now to the other. Do not you think, Mr.
Mortimer, that many take only the extreme view
of either side, and forget how they are joined."
" I do indeed/' said Louis earnestly. " You
.have not found any good arise from this doctrinal
discussion?"
" Oh, no ! " said Fanny ; " unless it is that the
plain "Word of God is so very precious — so very
precious afterwards."
" It does not improve our feelings towards one
another, docs it ? " said Louis.
" Oh, no ! " said Fanny. " If I believed all that
one party said, I should never speak to a Dissenter;
and if another, to any one called High Church;
and yet I love, I hope, all that love Christ, with-
out thinking what they are called: that is not of
much importance."
" My dear Fanny," said the quieter of the two
Lilies, "we must not forget our long drive; the
fly is here, and your aunt will wonder where we
are. It is a great treat,"' she added, as the bid
.Mr. and Mi^ Wells good night. "Dear Fanny
is so debarred from such Intercourse at present ;
1 knew I might bring ber."
37G DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Fannv bid adieu very dcmurelv ; but there was
an ominous pursing-up of the small mouth. She-
gave her hand to Louis as she passed, and he held
the door open, taking care to ask her address, as
he assisted her in putting on her shawl in the hall,
and then returned to the sitting-room, very much
dissatisfied that the same topics were still under
review between Mr. Wells and Mrs. Wybrow,
Miss Wells and Mr. StrangeAvays.
Louis took his leave a few minutes after Fanny's
departure, pleading Nevinson's early horns in ex-
cuse for his. He almost ran home, and directly
the servant had opened the door to his impatient
knock, he rushed past her, to her great surprise,
threw his hat on the table, and walked into his
friend's dining-room in his great coat.
Here an unexpected scene awaited him. Among
the many plans for the improvement of the igno-
rant poor of the populous parish under his care he
had devised, Nevinson and his wife had a weekly
class of such parents as could come after their
children were safely in bed, or others who were
engaged during the day. The women were taught
to mend and make, a branch of useful knowledge
in which the poor arc lamentably deficient ; and
while Mrs. Nevinson superintended this, her hus-
band read aloud a chapter in the Bible, and ex-
plained it, and then some pleasant little tract,
previously chosen for the purpose. Nevinson
seemed to have but one thought, " How can I
best employ my talent ? " and every day had its
DASHWOOD PRIORY. o77
own prominent work marked out. The Budden
O] ening <>f the door caused a general turning of
I i ..(Is iii that direction.
Louis stood still .a momenl .
" Am I interrupting you ? "
" No, we have just done, Mr. Mortimer/' said
Mrs. Nevinson ; " indeed, Ave arc rather late.
Shall we have prayers, dear'.'" she said, turning
to her husband.
• Yes, it is quite late.*'
He rang the bell, and the servants entering, a
hymn led by Mrs. Nevinson was sung, the simple ser-
vice performed, and the company kindly dismissed.
When they were gone, Nevinson turned to
Louis with an inquiry respecting his enjoyment.
Louis v, as standing rather gloomily leaning against
the wall, and .Mrs. Nevinson echoed her husband's
stion before lie Beemed to hear
' Now, the end of the commandment is cha-
rjty, '' he said, abruptly. " I have not enjoyed
self at all, Nevinson. I have been annoyed."
"My dear Mortimer/' said Nevinson.
The slightest possible glance passed between
him and his wife, and they changed the subject
by making some little remark on the poor mothers
n ho had jusl left.
•• I have been disappointed, Nevinson/' he said,
acly heeding the remark. " I shall never care
aboul Mr. Strangeways' preaching again: it is
th without works; it Is nothing but railing
. inst those who differ from him."
378 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" Nay," said Nevinson, very kindly, while a
little flush mounted in his pale cheek, and he laid
his hand on Louis' arm ; " you will not say so in
heaven, Mortimer. He is a good man, and strives
to do good. He gives away a great deal to the
poor. I hear often of his charitable deeds, as
well as of his powers of preaching. You know,"
he added, with a little huskiness, "we do not
agree at all in doctrine ; but we must acknow-
ledge excellence wherever we find it."
" ' Though I give all my goods to feed the
poor/ " said Louis.
" I believe, however much we differ, that he
is truly single-minded, Mortimer; that he only
thinks of delivering his message, and would
brave any obloquy for the advancement of his
opinions."
" Of his opinions ! Yes," said Louis, scornfully.
" My dear Mortimer, you are not like yourself.
Have you had supper ? "
" No — yes, thank you. Nevinson, you think
no evil. Oh, Nevinson ! ' charity beareth all
things, hopcth all things, endureth all things/ "
Nevinson looked a little perplexed, his eyes
dilated, and his happy expression grew more sweet,
as he replied, gently, —
" Well, dear Mortimer, you must hope all
things. You know how much pain that spares us,
does it not ? The Word of God is always shield-
ing His children from little vexations and heart-
burning, when they walk by its light." He paused,
HVMIWOOD PRIORY. 379
.uid added, slowly, "How wonderful it seems that
men are so blind to their own happiness as to walk
in darkness."
Nothing more was said on either side. Louis
ted himself with a heart full of enthusiasm for
vinson. In a few minutes he mentioned his
meeting with Fanny Salisbury, and from thence
easily digressed to old times, and entertained his
friends for half an hour with old school recol-
lections ; and when they parted, his excitement
seemed to have died away.
380 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
CHAPTER XXV.
" Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
me more than these ? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord ; Thou
knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs."
— John xxi. 15.
" Precept upon precept, line upon line ; here a little and there
a little."— Is. xxviii. 10.
Before the next Sunday arrived. Louis had
gained a general idea of his new parish, could
find his way about it pretty well by himself, and
was qualified to take his own share in its duties
without Nevinson's assistance. He also took pos-
session of the Rectory on the Saturday, and having
arranged with his friend to take the Sundav-school
in the morning, he set out from his house after
breakfast to commence operation*.
The school-house was a new and commodious
building, situated near the church. Masters and
mistresses had been carefully provided, and the
greatest care and circumspection were exercised
in inducing orderly attendance and mental im-
provement. The little quiet assembly at Dash-
wood had not Avell prepared Louis for the hundred
and fifty faces, all strange, all indifferent, which
met his inquiring look as he entered the boys*
school-room that morning. They were justassem-
DASH WOOD PRIORY. 381
hied, and the master was walking round to see
that all were in their places, with clean faces and
hands, provided with hooks, ready for Mr. Morti-
mer's first visit. Louis made his way anion<r them
to the desk, and was immediately attended upon
by the master, who laid an open prayer-hook
hefore him.
The late excellent Mr. Bickersteth insists greatly,
in his advice to a young friend, always to eo
"from the closet to the pulpit." Surely this
advice will as well apply to the Sunday-school
teacher of every denomination. Those precious
little lambs wait on him for their food ; hut how
Can he give it to them, who has not just received
it at his Father's hands? How can he expect a
harvest who has not sought a hlcssing from the
Giver of the increase ?
Louis had been earnest in meditation and prayer
that morning, that a blessing might rest on his
work, and that he might duly estimate the im-
mense value of the souls committed to his charge,
and his responsibility as their watchman. It was
with a full heart that he looked on his younff
charge, and there was something in his silent
gaze that hushed the talkers, and awed the giddy
into an outward attention to the few words he
addressed to them before prayers.
"My dear boys. 1 dare Bay you will be veiv
attentive to me for a few minutes this morning,
for VOU will he rather curious to know what the
new clergyman will say. Now, 1 want just to
382 DASHW00D PRIORY.
say a very few words before we kneel down to the
Almighty God about all our duties on this blessed
day. Tell me, who sets apart this day?" The
children immediately answered as with one voice.
"Now, who can repeat the fourth command-
ment ? "
There were fifty hands held out, and Louis
signed to one to repeat it, and then added two or
three simple questions to show the nature of the
Christian's observance of the Sabbath. He then
continued, —
" Now, I want you all — all — the very little ones
as- well as the oldest here, — to try remember this
all the day long : ' Remember the Sabbath-day, to
keep it holy.' They are very few words. Now,
all repeat them."
He made them all repeat them twice, and then
continued —
" But you know we have all very sinful hearts;
we cannot keep the Sabbath holy by ourselves.
If you have no help, you will go away : some will
quarrel in and out of school ; some will play at
marbles or other games, and all will think idle
thoughts and speak idle words. "What must we
do?"
" Pray to God, sir," said several voices.
" That is just what we must do," replied Louis,
very seriously. " We are about to kneel down,
and I am going to ask for the Holy Spirit to teach
us all to keep it ; and if I ask in my heart, God
will help me j but will he help those who whisper
DA8HW00D PBIOBY. 383
idle -words at his footstool, and those who laugh,
and those who think about idle things, or look at
their lessons while they are pretending to pray ?
tell me."
His eye wandered over several abashed little
faces, unci many voices answered, " No, sir."
" Then we have also to remember that this is a
very ioyful dav : ' This is the day the Lord hath
■» v m m *
made; we should be glad and rejoice in it.'
' ADgels praise Him, so will we,
Poor and sinful though we he.'
How good God is to give us one day in seven, —
' That we may learn the way to heaven ;
Or el.-e we never should have thought
About religion as we ought.'
Now we will begin with a hymn; and remember,
God looks at the heart, — at the thoughts, — not at
the lips."
Lonis had inquired for a hymn-book, and had
been informed that they only sang chants; and
not knowing their tunes, he desired the master to
lead; and they all joined in the beautiful canticle,
" 0! come, let us sing unto the Lord."
They then knob down; and there was something
in the little address, and the serious joy of the
new clergyman, that impressed the boys this
morning, lor they were outwardly very attentive.
Prayers being over, Louis signified to tin' iu;i--
ter, that In' would Look round the sehool for a
short time, to make himself acquainted with the
system, and with the capacity of the scholars, and
384 dashwood priory.
then would take some of the bigger boys. The
usual routine was accordingly followed, with
Church catechism, collects, spelling, and that
admirable arrangement of Bible precepts and
promise, " Faith and Duty." The children were
very quiet and orderly for so large a party ; but
before long, Louis became sensible of a great
coldness and apathy in most of the pupils and
teachers. The Church catechism and their duties
as baptized members of the Church of England
were the great things insisted upon with the elder
boys, and accuracy in spelling with the younger ;
and no attempt seemed made to interest the
younger children by relating to them some of
those sweet stories of Jesu's love, which the very
babe can understand from the lips that love the
task. Louis thought there might be some little
constraint from his presence, and he stopped
before a class of half a dozen little ones, all under
seven years old, taught by one of the older pupils
and seating himself on the form behind them,
took one upon each knee. The children looked
shyly up in his face, and then, with that unerring-
instinct of childhood, smiled at one another, and
the rest of the little class nestled closer to him.
They had each of them a paper with monosyllable*
of four letters, which they were slowly and pain-
fully spelling to their teacher. Louis took one of
the papers, and glancing down the columns, turned
to them cheerfully, and said,
" Who can spell r/ood?"
DAS II WOOD PRIORY. 385
One child slowly and carefully performed the
required task.
•• Now ally" he said quickly. But the others
were at fault ; so telling them all to listen, Louis
made the senior repeat it again, and then they
were all to trv together.
" And now, don't forget it, while I tell you
something about the good Saviour, the good
Shepherd."
He asked them some little questions about the
meaning of "good," showing them that they had
naughty hearts, and that onlv God could make
them good ; and then they were asked to spell
the word again, and Louis told them about Jesus
blessing the little children. He was distressed to
find that they hardly knew that precious name ;
and before he went away, he turned to the account
in his pocket Bible, and putting it into the hands
of the teacher, desired him to teach them that
se, "Suffer the little children to come
unto me;" as he left them, he looked kindly on
tie little on< s.
•■ I hope you will take a great deal of pains to
rn that verse for me ; 1 will hear it ne\t
Sunday, if God keeps us all alive. Yon wiH not
forget how to spell good now ; and remember, if
wr want to be good, we inn-, pi-ax to the good
l :d Jesus, who has said, ' Suffer the Little
children to come unto me.' "
lie then summoned the two upper classes to
the master's desk, desiring them to bring their
386 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Bibles. He took the Epistle and Gospel, and
went carefully through both before church-time,
keeping up the attention of his pupils by judi-
cious questions and happy remarks. He was, on
the whole, pleased with their answers.
One innovation Louis ventured to carry out
this clay, after some demurs about the propriety of
altering anything in Trevannion's absence, and
blaming himself much for not speaking of it
when arranging his duties, and this was, of
desiring that the candles should not be lighted on
the communion-table until further orders. It
was a busy and happy Sunday. He preached
twice that day : and such was the effect of the
new, warm declarations heard there, that in a few
Sundays the congregation would bear a small
comparison even with that of Mr. Strangeways.
Ah, there is nothing that will supply the place of
the pure Gospel. Untainted yet with the errors
around him, Louis was gladly heard, and the poor
and ignorant retired from church talking together,
and praising God for all they had heard.
It must not be supposed that Nevinson's ser-
mons were of the same class of those of Trevan-
nion ; but he was not naturally so gifted as Louis
as a preacher, and his tincture of error was carried
sometimes through his discourses enough to drive
away the more critical and spiritually minded.
Louis was run after, and it was dangerous ; but
as long as he kept humble, fearing lest he should
be carried away by man's praise ; as long as he
DASHW00D PKIORT. 3S7
came from the clo-ct to the pulpit, he was not
puffed up ; but only felt the more, that " Paul
may plant, and Apollos water, but God alone can
give the increase/' Nevinson did not fail to
inform Trevannion of the increase of his congre-
gation ; and Trevannion, satisfied for the present,
and ignorant of part of the cause, expressed his
gratification thereat in very polite terms to his
substitutes. There A\as one concession, besides
turning to the east, which Louis was prevailed
upon to make to the prejudices of his friend, — that
of preaching in the Burplice. It was against his
inclination, and he saw no harm in the thing
itself; but surely it was something like a second
p in the wrong direction — something like the
" appearance of evil."
o r o
388 DASHW00D PRIORY.
CHAPTER XXVI.
" It is impossible but that offences must come ; but woo unto
them by whom they come." — Luke xvii. 1.
We have already remarked that Louis' previous
acquaintance with a country school had not pre-
pared him for the different aspect of a large town
one. This remark will equally apply to the whole
parish. Louis felt as if he had never known a
minister's responsibility before. In Dashwood,
for vears under constant and careful supervision,
the young had grown up Avith him, and the small
population and few temptations had kept them
comparatively innocent. But here, excepting a
couple of streets of respectable inhabitants, was a
square mass of three thousand poor ignorant
human beings, many living in small courts and
alleys, of such utter filth and wretchedness, that
this very circumstance alone seemed an insuper-
able bar to all hope for improvement. The aspect
of whole courts seemed to be sullen apathy and
reckless depravity. The young minister's heart
yearned over them, and sank at the almost over-
whelming amount of his joint cure. Everywhere
distress seemed calling out, "Come over and help
us ;" and how could he do it effectually ? lie could
DASHWOOD ritioiiv. .l^l)
not see want and nakedness and not relieve it to
The utmost of his power, but often, after emptying
his purse on some apparently wretched objects, he
found all had been spent in drink, and at his next
visit the recipients no better for his bounty. It
needed all Nevinson's previous experience to
prevent a lavish expenditure of Louis' means on
worthless objects.
" How can I go and tell of the love of Jesus,
anil of his boundless compassion/' he urged; "of
lii^ constant readiness to hear and help, if I show an
indifference to those very troubles that often hinder
them from listening? I often think, Xevinson, ol
the remark of a poor woman to a gentleman who
\\as urging on her the necessity of preparation for
another world. ' Ah, sir ! if you were as cold and
hungry as I am, you could not listen.' What a
difference cold and fatigue makes on our own
feelings, Xevinson; we forget far too often, when
we are with others, how dependent the mind is
often on the body."
Louis said tin- with tears in his eves, and Ne-
vinson proceeded to show him ol' the many ways
m which he could supply relief more efficaciously.
lie told him many little scents ol' Ins wife's
household management in preparing soups and
clothing in the cold weather, of coal tickets and
Clothing clubs, and Lending clubs and : - .minus
lor distribution of incut, and tor supplying work;
i, finally, Louis decided on tr i \ i i m; money cauti-
ously, and whenever it was practicable, to consult.
390 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
before giving relief, with his judicious friends on
the best way of affording it to the distress which
constant^ presented itself.
Mr. Wells did not lose sight of our hero, and
often especially invited him to his house, beside
the general invitation he had at first given ; but
there was something there that Louis never seemed
to get over. His warmth for Nevinson was always
in the ascendant, and Mr. Wells's bold and some-
what hot invectives against " Freewillers " and
" Arminians," always seemed to have an indirect
leaning to his friends, and kept him in a constant
>>tate of hostility to all Mr. Wells and his favourite
preacher advanced. He was always contrasting
the two with Nevinson in his mind, always feeling
that he felt more spiritually minded when with
his own friend ; and the consequence was at last,
in his zeal for Nevinson, he almost insensibly
imbibed some of his erroneous opinions, his zeal
and veneration for the apostolic succession, and
his views of sacramental efficacy greatly increas-
ing; and though the constant communion in
which he lived guarded him from losing sight of
Christ crucified, it sometimes tinged his sermons
with a little obscurity, and confused the poor,
among whom with Nevinson he laboured so in-
defatigably. Nevinson' s constant correspondence
with Trevannion afforded him an opportunity of
alluding to Louis' strengthened mind, as he termed
that which was too sadly a proof of his Aveakncss.
His veneration for ecclesiastical forms was
DA SQWOOS PEK • S'Jl
gradually increasing so much, that he was seri-
ously considering t he expediency of listening to
vannion's oft-repeated wish of intoning the
service.
Among other places which Louis constantly
visited w as an almshouse, where he met with some
interesting Christians. When his new ideas were
becoming sufficiently strengthened to be at all
p< rceptible, he, while paying a visit to one of the
old worn* n, had been in a confused manner insist-
ing on the efficacy of baptism, when the aged
saint, respectfully laying her withered hand on
his arm, said, —
u Sir, days should speak. May I make so bold
as to speak. I am an old woman, near heaven, I
hope, not so learned as yon, sir; but Balaam's ass
i the Lord chose, once reproved the prophet."
Don't be afraid, Smith/' he said, smiling.
What reproof have you to administer now? "
"No, dear sir," she replied, while a tear sprang
to her eye, "I know God's grace keeps you too
humble to despise the words even of the poor and
ien irant. Sir, when von come to warm the heart
of the redeemed tinner, and when you want to
lead the unthinking sinner, tell them all of Christ's
lOTC, as you used. Don't tell them of the Chureh
of England, and how they may win heaven by
keeping the Commandments, as Borne do, so- ; not
IT. Tell them, as you used to tell them,
that they are lost, helpless sinners, and can do
nothing to Bave then:- -Ives. They won't feel the
392 DASHWOOD PItlOllY.
blessing of baptism till they are made new crea-
tures. Oh ! my dear gentleman, my heart has
been praying for you night and morning since
you came among us like an angel sent from God.
Our hearts rejoiced when we first heard you in
the church. I mind the text : it was, ' He said
unto me, It is done/ Oh ! sir, we love you and
dear Mr. Nevinson dearly. Dear Mr. Nevinson,
his sweet face does one good, and his kind voice.
I am as glad to see him as if he put a pound
in my hand. Oh ! sir, Mr. Trevannion 's very
far gone. God keep you and Mr. Nevinson from
that."
Louis did not turn proudly away, as Trevannion
would have done, at the idea of an old woman
presuming to speak in such a manner to him, an
ordained minister of " the Church," nor quietly,
with a grave, reproving air, as Nevinson perhaps
might have done ; but something seemed to say
she Avas right ; something within him yearned for
the old bright feeling before he meddled with con-
troversy; and sweetly thanking the old woman
for her anxiety, with a little rebuke at her men-
tion of Trevannion to him, he read her a chapter,
and heard her talk of her favourite texts and
hymns, and after praying with her, took his
leave.
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 393
CHAPTER XXVII.
" Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee, in whose
heart are Thy ways ; who passing through the valley of Baca,
maketh it a well, the rain also filleth the pools. O Lord of
Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee ! " — Ps. lxxxiv.
" Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I
Bend ? and who will go for OS 1 Then said I, Here am I : send
me."— Is. vi. 8.
Summer had come. Louis' health was now quite
re-established, aud the time of his engagement
had already expired ; but he waited from week to
week for Trevannion's return. It was now daily
expected, and Louis walked occasionally to the
railway-station from the almshouses which were
in its vicinity, at the hour the onlv train arrived
by which he could conic. The parishioners, rich
and poor, had become greatly attached to him,
and were truly sorry at the prospect of losing
him, the school children especially looking upon
their gentle pastor as their friend, — for he had
mixed so much among them, and h;id so earnest l\
sought their welfare. H had hen his custom to
have them, both boys and girls, by a class at a
tunc, to spend the evening once a week with him,
when his housekeeper provided a nice tea, and
presided at the entertainment, assisting as well in
394 D.VSIIWOOD rillOKY.
tlie kinocent games that followed. Louis always
drew them round the fire or table before they
parted, and told them a Bible story ; and many
were the precious texts and sweet hymns with
which he stored their minds from time to time;
visiting their homes — as he did constantly, — he
learned much respecting their habits and charac-
ters, their opportunities of doing right and temp-
tation to do wrong, that he was enabled to improve
to their advantage, seeking to impress upon each
one his individual responsibility in using the
talent committed to his or her charge. Knowing
how short his time was among them, he was most
anxious to improve his own aright. There was,
however, something in his tone and manner more
careful and anxious than when he first came to
E ; he did not know that the increasing
influence of the doctrines to which he insensibly
leaned was doing its sure work in robbing him
temporarily of his confidence and joy ; but as yet
thev were not sufficiently his own to creats any
apprehension in his congregation as to his sound-
ness. It is written in the Word of God, " God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able, but will with the tempta-
tion make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear it." And again, " They that wait on the
Lord shall renew their strength." The time was
come that the band of error was to be broken
from him, and the film to be removed from his
eyes, that he might see on what a precipice he
DASHWOOD PUIOHY.
I been standing, and how Burely his feet had
i saved from falling.
One Saturday oon Louis was expect i
larger party than usual of the school children to
. as a sort of farewell visit, and Mr. and Mrs.
. inson had promised to come and help do
the honours. Louis strolled on the railway plat-
form for t lie second or third time. The train he
came to meet arrived almost immediately, but
there was no Trevannion ; and, after looking about
a few minutes, he wi ing to retire, when his
attention was arrested by a fig
him. The white neckcloth proclaim! clerical
capacity, and a mourning hand, covering the hat
to within half an inch of the top, told a tale of
bereavement. The stranger was looking after
sjage, and turning his head in Louis'
direction, revealed a pleasant, gentleman!
perfectly well known, and yet Louis could not for
an instant recall it. There was an expression of
placid resignation that seemed to speak a volume
i chastened spirit and of sanctified affliction.
Presently he turned round again to speak to one
of the porters, and this time Louis 1 mystification
vanished.
" It must be Meredith/' he said, walk
quickly up to him. " Meredith ! this
unexpected pleasure."
•• It is," replied his old friend, heartily shaking
his hand ; " 1 did not exped to m. , t you SO E K)U,
ugh I was coming to see you. I am passing
396 dasiiwood priory.
through, and had previously arranged to spend the
night with you, if you could accommodate me."
" That I can most conveniently, as I have a
large house to myself. Why, what a long time it
is since we heard of you ! It must be nearly a
twelvemonth. I think vou are a worse scribe
than we are. I shall be so glad to hear about you.
I expect your story will be a parallel to my friend
Nevinson's happiness. Here is a coach already,
and your luggage in."
They entered, and, as Louis seated himself
opposite his friend, he continued :
" How came you in these parts? Where arc
you going?"
" That's a long story," he said, smiling such a
sweet sorrowful smile that Louis looked wonder-
ingly.
" I am going to London, and thence to
Africa."
" You to Africa, Meredith ! You, leave your
happy home ! Why, what does Mrs. Meredith
say to that, does she go with you? "
Louis repented the abrupt question, and won-
dered at his want of thought, as his friend's face
turned ashy pale, and an expression of great pain
passed over it. He replied, however, with toler-
able calmness, —
" Her memory does. Did you not get my
letter ? "
" Indeed, I did not !" exclaimed Louis, seizing
his friend's hand. " My dear Meredith, my dear
DASHWOOD PHIORV. 397
Meredith ! how indifferent you must have thought
inc."
" I did not write it myself/' answered Meredith,
in a low voice; "perhaps there was some mistake
about the address. I don't know how it was."
He turned away his head, and leaned out of
the window a minute or two, as if watching the
motion of the wheels, while Louis sat looking at
him in sympathizing Bilence. At length he drew
in his head, and, pointing to the new church,
asked if that wen- St. Margaret's ; and, on Louis's
affirmatory reply, admired it much.
" Have you much duty ?"
" Yes ; prayers twice every day, and three ser-
vices on Sunday, besides two weekly and one
Sunday service at the almshouse chapel."
• A great deal of work," said Meredith. "I
fancy we country parsons know little of work.
Have you many poor?"
Louis was beginning to L r ive some information
on the siate of the poor, when the fly Btopped a1
the vicarage-house jus! as the party of children
entered. As the gentlemen dismounted, Louis
mentioned his juvenile gathering, asking if
Meredith would object to it.
'•' It will be over at eight, and we can join them
or not, as vou like, after v<>u have dined. I
always dine early, as I find it more convenient ;
bul my hdusekeeper will soon something for
you, if \uu will excuse the extemporaneous
nature of the entertainment."
398 DASHWOOD PRIOllY.
" I thank you, I have already dined, and shall
enjoy your little party as much as you will."
The housekeeper received prompt orders to
make everything ready for the unexpected visitor,
and before long Mr. and Mrs. Nevinson arrived,
and they all went in to the children. There was
as little constraint as possible in the presence of
the stranger, for he was soon one among them,
and though not quite so active and lively
as the others, performed his share in the enter-
tainments. When the children had had tea,
Louis took his friends into another room, where
the same repast was provided for them, leaving
the children to two servants' care till they were
ready to return. At half-past seven he assem-
bled them, reminded them of the approaching
Sabbath, and when they had sung the Saturday
night's hymn, he sent them home, giving them
a text to remember for the next day. Mr. and
Mrs. Nevinson took their leave shortly after, but
not before the former had obtained the promise
of a sermon from Meredith for the next morning.
Meredith readily complied, though Louis urged
his fatigue.
Meredith seemed much pleased with Louis'"
friend as well as with his school fete ; he did
not again allude to his recent loss, though in
their quiet conversation he gave Louis a detail
of his plans of operations as missionary under
the auspices of the Church Missionary Society,
and there was an eagerness and anxiety for the
DAS II WOOD PRIORY.
prosperity of the great cause about him, which
was most refreshing to our hero — like a Btrain of
old familiar music long since forgotten, for liis
own in in the Missionary cause had been
considerably deadened while at E ; neitl
Trevannion nor Nevinson patronizing the Church
Missionary Society, and Mr. Wells seemingly in-
different about any missions at all.
Mc redith's whole spirit seemed to say with the
willing prophets of old, " Here am I, send ra
Oh, how one zealous soul stirs up others, and
how the lukewarm is those in his spin
of action. " "We are not our own, we arc bought
with a price." Time, talents, words, though -.
ons, and influence arc all II is.
The old schoolfellows retired early that night,
but not before Meredith had asked many particu-
lars about his dear friends at Dashwood.
Louis knelt Ion-- in heartfelt prayer for his
afflicted friend; but he knew not how much
longer Meredith walked up and down his room,
and bent prostrate before the Throne of dr.
for strength to bear cheerfully his great to
for balm to soothe the wound that had that day
been roughly opened; and not till he could say,
'• Thy will be done," and could look up smilii
amid tears, in faith, to the bright mansions pre-
pared for the beloved of God, did he tie down;
when he soon fell into a BWeel slumber, in pose -
•ion of that peace which the world can ncii
nor take away !
400 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
The Sundav school the next morning; left Louis
but little time with Meredith before the morning
service at church. Meredith called for him at the
school, and they walked together to church. Me-
redith was very silent, and as thev entered the
beautiful building he looked very carefully around.
Louis led him up the centre aisle to the chancel,
and had he been on the watch would have noticed
many a change of expression pass over his face;
admiration, enthusiasm, and then a bolder, loftier
glance, that settled into something of a sorrowful
gaze, as they trod the marble chancel. He did
not speak, however, even to admire the monu-
mental window, though he paused a moment be-
fore it. Following Louis into the vestry, he laid
his Bible, and a closely- written manuscript, on the
table. Nevinson was there, and while the clerk was
assisting all three, Meredith asked if he should
assist in the communion service.
" You have both hard work this morning, and I
shall be able to try the church before preaching."
" Thank you, I shall be much obliged to you,"
replied Louis; "but I dare say you know what it
is never to feel tired till the work is over. Head-
ing prayers is always a refreshment."
While thej r proceeded in state to their stalls,
Meredith gravely watched the train of surpliced
singers, and once or twice during the service his
eyes turned with a serious scrutinizing gaze from
Louis to Nevinson, and back again, and seemingly
insensible to the general move to the cast in the
DASH WOO I) PRIORY. U)]
Creed, I13 stood still facing the north. As he and
N vinson left the communion-table, and retired
to the vestry, he threw off his surplice, and begged
to borrow a gown. Nevinson politely suggested
to him their custom of using the surplice. Mere-
dith hesitated a moment.
" Well, 1 suppose 1 must not break your rules/'
he answered, " as 1 am an interloper for this
Sunday. There is no more harm in one than the
other. It is but a party badge. I am afraid," he
added, with a little colour, "we are both taken
by surprise. You will a1 any rate forgive me
alter my confession, and we shall not respect each
other the less."
A cloud passed o-er Nevinson'a face. He made
no reply ;>> Meredith donned the surplice again,
and declining a second time the proffer from the
clerk, of a cap originally belonging to Trevannion,
proceeded to the pulpit, followed by a few anxious
and lather displeased looks from his colleague.
There was a depth in the silent petition he olJ'ercd
for strength to preach, and for ;i blessing on the
wind preached, which none present knew, 1 hough
the power of that petition was visible in the force
with which his bold discourse came home to the
hearts of many that day.
Louis folded his arms, and sal back with earnest
attention to hear what his friend would Bay.
I heard.
' \nd Paul stood in the midsl of Mars' hill,
and said, Ye men of Athens, 1 perceive that in all
2 i)
402 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed
by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar
with this inscription : to the unknown God.
"Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, Him
declare I unto you."
Nevinson glanced uneasily at Louis, and found
Louis' eyes fixed on him. They coloured, and,
prepared again to listen, Louis with more curiosity
than displeasure, and Nevinson rather angry and
exceedingly annoyed, expecting an invective
against Pusevism. Yet before ten minutes had
elapsed, the attention of both was so riveted that
the anger and curiosity were equally forgotten.
Meredith commenced quietly, as if he were un-
conscious that the erroneous doctrines to which
he alluded in the course of his sermon, were held
by his hearers, with a slight view of the whole of
the chapter, and then with the wonderful effect
which Paul's " new doctrines " must have pro-
duced on the curious Athenians. He then, with-
out a pause, as one who had the mastery of his
subject, drew a spiritual parallel in the state of
the Athenians to that of many nominal Chris-
tians. And this he did without the slightest tinge
of personality. Turning to several passages in
Galatians, he spoke on the obligation entailed
on all who considered the observance of the law
necessary to salvation, and drawing a rapid and
forcible distinction between the Jewish and Chris-
tian dispensation, mentioned the confusion that
existed in the minds of many Christians as to the
DASHWOOD PKIOB.Y.
division of the two. Tiicn taking up the last part
of his text, " Whom ye ignorantly worship, Him
declare I unto you," he hurst into a glowing
Bcription of the unalterable covenant of grace;
and here it seemed as if he had hurst the restraint
the more argumentative part of his discourse had
imposed. It was heartfelt experience and joyful
trust of that unchangeable love he sought to exalt :
" This is my friend and my beloved, the chiefest
among ten thousand." At times he leaned upon
the pulpit cushion, and seemed lost for words to
express the joyful, glorious sense he had of His
abiding love. " How different was that spirit of
childlike confidence and willing obedience/' he
said, "to the spirit of bondage which deemed it
necessary to win its salvation by the observance
of the rigid law — vain hope ! The law said, ' The
soul that sinneth it shall die;' Christ is not a half
Sai When he had dwelt on the comfort
and inexpressible happiness of him who has found
Christ, of his comfort in sorrow, and lastly, his
hope in the world to come, he concluded with a
grave warning to those who might in a cavilling
spirit accuse him of encouraging laxity in works.
"Shall we sin, that grace may abound?" showing
that he who has been taught of the Spirit, and is
a true believer, cannot wilfully sin; that faith
without works is a dead faith, hut the living faith
will ever work by love.
Nevinson had fa a his anger i there had
been nothing which reflected personally on bim
3 ii "
40-t DASHWOOD PRIORY.
or Louis, and the glowing, glorious Gospel decla-
ration found a response in his heart. Louis sat
almost as much absorbed as he had been by
Mr. Strangeways' discourse. But the sermon
Avas over, the simple benediction had been pro-
nounced, the organ pealed forth, and the congre-
gation dispersed to wonder who had preached;
some to profit, others to criticise his voice, style,
and doctrine, and to lose all advantage; others,
resumins: their worldlv business as soon as thev
were beyond the church-doors, forgot the sounds
as soon as they ceased. Others heard and re-
joiced ; but the good seed sown withered, for it
was sown on stony ground. Ah, how often may
we mourn with the vcarninsr minister of God —
Avho has felt as if he would die, if his people
might believe the words at his mouth — in the
words of the prophet Ezekiel, —
"They come unto thee as my people cometh,
and my people sit before thee, and they hear my
Avords, but thev will not do them : for with their
mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth
after covetousness. And lo ! thou art unto them
as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant
A'oice, and can play Avell on an instrument : for
thev hear thy Avords, but theA' do them not/'
Nevinson and Louis both thanked Meredith
for his sermon, but there Avas a degree of con-
straint in Ncvinson's manner. He declined
Louis' invitation to dine, and bade him and
Meredith adieu at the vestry-door. Meredith
DA8HW00D I'KIORY. 405
and Louis returned to the vicarage, where a cold
dinner awaited them. Their conversation was
Mich as becometli saints.
" They spuku of Him they loved."
And though Louis said but little of Meredith's
sermon, he thought much, and portions were
constantlv recurring to his mind in the course of
the dav. The bands by which lie had lately been
lightly held, seemed all at once to have burst,
and the joyousness of spirit which these new
reflections called forth at times, made him hardly
know where he was. Meredith read prayers for
him in the afternoon; and he almost wondered
why he left out one or two remarks that had been
written down in his sermon. When afternoon
-i i vice was over, the friends went together to visit
a sick parishioner; and after a short rest and tea
at home, there was the evening service; and it
was not till nearly nine o'clock that, with their
little supper before them in Trevannion's library,
they were alone for any purposes of conversation.
Louis was rather tired, and said little until prayers
were ended. He asked Meredith to perform this
service for him; and when the servants left then:
alone again, he suddenly threw himself into an
: i in-ehair, and said abruptly, —
"Meredith, what made you choose that text
to-day ? You took me quite by surprise. Sfou do
not always preach extempore; 1 suppose?"
"What makes you think 1 preached extem-
pore?" asked Meredith.
40G DASinvoon priory.
" I am sure you did/' replied Louis, with a
slight smile. " I just now peeped into that neat
manuscript you took out of your pocket. You
did not preach on any text in Isaiah to-day."
Meredith coloured a little ; hut he saw Louis
was not offended, and answered, —
" I once before preached on that text, and
remembering the heads of my sermon, was able
to preach without notes ; I hope without much
confusion. I seldom write my sermons fully
out."
"But why did you change your text?" per-
sisted Louis.
Meredith looked very earnestly at Louis, with-
out answering.
"What made you think you were among
idolaters?"
" Is not that recollection always applicable in
a mixed congregation?" asked Meredith, still
looking at Louis. " Arc there not always many
who worship God ignorantly ? My dear Louis, I
cannot tell you how grieved I always am when I
see those good tidings of great joy, ignorantly
covered up by legal bondage, or human obser-
vances ; and it is often done by those who are very
zealous for God's glory."
" But why did you change it?" persisted Louis.
" Because you think we ignorantly worship God?
But tell me, Meredith, what is there wrong in
reverence for those things set apart for holy
purposes ? There is and has been a great deal of
DASHWOOD PRIORY.
laxity and indifference to her principles, within
the wry heart of the Church of England her-
self — indifference to God's glory.''
" If you define God's glory to consist in church
decorations, and chancel-screens, and turning to
the cast, and reading the prayers where the con-
gregation cannot hear them, I think the greater
laxity the better/ 1
"Well, I did not like the reading-desk arrange-
ment, I own," said Louis ; " but why quarrel with
church decorations ? Will not a reverential mind
delight to adorn the house of his God, to show all
possible honour to His sanctuary?"
"Certainly, no one can blame a reverence for
sacred things ; and if they are founded on a right
basis, it will not go too far," replied Meredith;
"hut these errors began with church decorations,
and the spiritually-minded look jealously upon
the lavish expenditure of it."
Now, as 1 do not mean to make my little
volume a \ehiele for doctrinal discussion, I pass
over the Ion-- conversation that ensued on the
Baptismal service and the Church articles. Louis
battled for some time in defence of his later views,
but at last acknowledged his friend's superior
wisdom. Meredith concluded byremarking, —
"The Sigh-church party accuse tin- Evange-
lical of narrow-mindedness; hut the truth
air hound by no sect. We can say, 'Grace be
with all thai love the Lord Jesus Christ in sin-
cerity;' while the High Churchman will not go
408 DASIIWOOD PRIORY.
beyond the narrow limits of that portion of the
Church of Christ to which he is ordained minister,
unless he accord the same grace to the Romanist,
by virtue of his Apostolic succession, in preference
to the Dissenter, who, in truth, professes the same
faith, though he changes the form of worship."
"Oh, Meredith!" exclaimed Louis, starting from
his chair, " I am very unstable. I see how it is : /
who was going to do so much here — I have been
perverted, at least almost perverted myself. I wish
I had not left Dashwood. I have had nothing but
controversy ever since ; first on one side, and then
on the other. What good does it ever to any one ?
why cannot we believe in all our Saviour has done
for us, without calling ourselves Calvinist or
Arminian ? I knew, to be sure, the existence of
such differences, but they were nothing to me ;
and I have been neither happier nor more useful
since I have been forced into these arguments.
Why must men be eternally arguing on point-
which they never can understand ? "
" And yet, I think a clergyman must make
himself acquainted with doctrinal differences,"
replied Meredith, " or else he will allow himself
and his flock with him to be blown about with
every wind of doctrine ; and even controversy has
its uses. Men, with all their indolence and lukc-
warmncss, might in many cases cease to search
their Bibles diligently, if these disputed points did
not rouse them to examination and self-defence.
We arc commanded to prove all things, and to
DASH WOO I) 1'KIOKV. lU'J
have <in answer for every one that asketh u* a rea-
son of the hope thai is in us."
Louis was silent, and Meredith sat intently
watching the changing expression and flitting
colour of his downcast face. Presently he raised
his head, and spoke hurriedly, and with much
i motion.
" But, oh, Meredith ! lor that childlike spirit
that made David say, ' Lord. I have not exercised
myself in matters that arc too great for me.' I
do not want to know more than God teaches me
Himself."
"Well, that i< right," said Meredith, gently.
What then ? Does that militate against your
making yourself sure on those points which Clod
lias revealed ? M
" No ; hut may we not sometimes go further,
or try to go further, than God has revealed,
Meredith'.'" he added, with large glistening eyes.
"1 never imagined such thoughts as have been
put into my mind lately. I am not strong enough
nor culm enough for hard matters, and God's own
Word Bays, ' H no that i^ weak in the faith receive
ve, hut not to doubtful disputations.'
"Hut what hard matters distress you now?"
said Meredith. " 1 thought we had settled all the
doubtful points."
"No; when those arc quieted, the bardesi rise.
If I have gone wrong, Meredith, I owe it, humanly
-peaking, to quite an opposite influence. Mere-
dith, an' \ou a Calvinist ? "'
410 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
" I am not very fond of the names of Calvinist
and Arminian/' replied Meredith, gravely; " I
believe that man is saved by God's grace alone,
and that the faith by which he believes, is like-
wise solely His gift ; that without His spirit help-
ing us, we can perform no good work ; that He
has loved us with an everlasting love, and there-
fore with loving-kindness He has drawn us. I
believe, in short, dear Louis, what the Bible says,
and I trust I try to receive all in a child-like
spirit; and as a child cannot be made to under-
stand many things he gradually learns as he
reaches manhood, so I believe there are many
things we could not understand, even if God chose
to reveal them to us, and my mind quietly rests
there, thankful for the love that has given me
salvation, and content to understand why, when
God pleases to teach me ; and if He never see fit
to teach me more of His secret things, to rest
confidently on His unerring wisdom and unfailing
love."
" And that is just where I wish to rest, Mere-
dith," said Louis, in a low voice; "but lately, I
have not been allowed to do so. I have been
forced into controversy on those mysterious arti-
cles, Free will, and God's Sovereignty ; and I have
been constantly pushed so far, and dictated to so
dogmatically, that whenever the subject has been
mentioned to me, it has caused an aching, trem-
bling sensation, and made me feel farther from ray
Saviour; and I have seen this doctrine, in more
D v -iiwooD puio; 1 1 I
than one instance, so little productive of charity
and lovely conversation, that it has been no
wonder if I have, whether in a spirit of opposition
I know not, been influenced the other way. '1 he
manner in which this doctrine has been urged
upon me, has been such that it created a repug-
nance and rebellion where noni d previously,
and has naturally made me flv to those in whom
I have found more visibly the fruits of the Spirit, —
' Love, long-suffering, goodness, meekness, gentle-
ia;' and these are no eminently conspicuous in
dear Nevinson, that I suppose my heart through
him, became inclined, without knowing it, to cm-
brace his errors, where joined to so much piety."
"But who are you speaking of?'' asked Mere-
dith. "What do you mean'!'"
"Some very extreme Calvinists whom I have
lately met," replied Louis. " One is an old friend
of my fat! ud I came here with a feeling of
\ aeration and reaped for him, and this was
greatly increased by his pleasant manners and
kind attention to me on mj arrival. At bis house
I became acquainted with a young clergyman,
v. ho holds a chapel of ease here. I had heard
Mr. Strangeways preach, and «as quite delighted
at the proepeci of knowing him. Since then, 1
have been so grievously disappointed at never
bearing, < ither from his lips or tfa ins Hock,
whom I have met from time to time, any sw<
conversation on the love of Christ and on our duties
as members of His body, and yet so much vitu-
112 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
peration against all who differ from them, that I
cannot tell you how angry I have sometimes felt,
when I returned from their company, where they
had had the had taste to speak to me of my friends,
to hear Nevinson's sweet remarks on them ; to
see how closelv Nevinson endeavours to walk, how
careful he is not to hring dishonour on the religion
he professes. Is it wonderful I should listen to
Nevinson and be willing to be persuaded by him?"
" But has there been no pride and self-will in
vourself, Louis ? "
" I know it ; I know it," said Louis, excitedly
walking to the window and back ; " so much that
I was often afraid ; and yet, Meredith, I often
prayed, ' That which I see not, teach Thou me.' "
" And the prayer will be answered, dear Louis,
rest assured," said Meredith, kindly. " God only
can teach His own things, and ' He that believeth
shall not make haste/ "
" How often I am reminded of that passage,"
said Louis, thoughtfully. " And so I would wish
to wait patiently ; but is it not strange, Meredith,
that believing that none but the elect can believe,
and that no man can convince another, this party
should attempt to force a conviction on me which,
supposing it be a right one, it is utterly impossible
man's unaided reason can believe ? "
" It is strange, and inconsistent too," replied
Meredith ; "but we are a mass of inconsistencies.
A dear friend of mine used to say, ' Great zeal and
great judgment would make a perfect character.'
n.vsHwooi) priory. 413
You cannot expect it. You must not forget how
much of our natural character we carry into
religion."
"I can go with my lather's friend a certain
distance," said Louis; "but he goes beyond ine ;
he sets God's electing sovereignty first, and thinks
nothing of any moment but that ; and there seems
to me a majesty but n<> tenderness in Ins view; a
sternness that makes me tremble. If I believed
as lie docs, I could not preach. It is fatalism to
me. I do not wonder his favourite preachers
never invite sinners to come."
" I think you should not dwell upon it, cer-
tainly, Louis, if it excites you in such a manner;
but why? — we know our free-will and the sove-
reignty of (iod are twined together so myste-
riously, that we cannot separate them. We feel
Ourselves responsible for our actions, and yet a
el something tells us a greater will than man's
orders all and turns all to His own purposes.
' There's a Divinity that Bbapea our end*
l: >Ugh hew them as we will.'
I was very much struck with a beautiful view
of God's love and bis all-seeing foreknowledge
put forth in a public met tin- at which 1 was
present a short time ago. It was to this purport :
'The lost will always know and lament in vain
remorse their Buicidal indifference to God's prof-
fered mercy to all. The cry of each will be, " I
did it myself!" while, at the same tune, the
crown of the ransomed will he ever casl at the
414 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
Redeemer's feet, and their song shall be, " Not
unto us, O Lord, but unto Thy name be glory."
" Grace, grace ! " " He hath loved us with an
everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness
hath He drawn us ! " ' The concluding observa-
tion of the speaker was thrillingly lovely. He
bade us notice that word of our Lord, ' When the
Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory,
and all nations shall be gathered together before
Him, He shall say to them on his right hand,
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the king-
dom PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF
the world ; but to them on the left He will say,
Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire,
prepared, not for you, but for the devil and
his angels/ "*
■' Oh, Meredith ! " exclaimed Louis, starting
forward, " that word is worth ten thousand of gold
and silver. Oh ! surely the clear Word of God
has an answer for every doubt. I want nothing
more now. Surely, in His love, he permitted,
nay, sent you to point this out to me. I am so
thankful. A weight seems taken from my heart."
" I know all your anxiety by experience," said
Meredith, " and I suspect I have been much harder
of conviction than you, much longer in coming to
a knowledge of the truth. I was so rebellious,
* The above beautiful and animating remark was heard by
the writer from Dr. Cumming's lips, at a recent public meeting.
As the events of the story are supposed to take place a few years
back, the authority could not be quoted in the text.
DASHWOOD PltloRV.
that I am often lost in wonderment at the patience
that bore with me, and saved me in spite of all.
Like yourself, I was violently opposed to the re-
ception of this doctrine from the conduct of some
of its extreme upholders. There Mas a large
family near my father's, who, in the long vacations
finding I was seriously disposed (that was dear
Dashwood's work), made much of me; and I was
in some danger of being puffed up, had it not been
for my remembrance of your happy home, and
the living epistle I had read there. They \i
tenters, and attended a large chapel in our
neighbourhood. There was very much in their
conversation that you mention; and finding, at
last, that I did not hold their views, I was deluged
with books, — sermons, memoirs, and antidott
all of which being presented or lent with 'a pur-
pose/ only made me the more violently opposed,
the hitter suggesting numbers of oppositions whieh
I should never otherwise have- thought of. It ■
the Bible — the Bible alone, that convinced
long after." lie paused, as if a sorrowful re
lection had come over him.
" But did they live consistently ':" asked Louis.
"No; that was the great Btumbling-block to
' Baid .Meredith, '-'lie- whole family regu-
larly went to chapel every Sunday, and to i
meetings in the week ; prayer-meetingi wew held
in the house. While the young people were
Children, t!uv attended all this; but as t hi- 1
grew up they became the wildest, mosl reck!
416 DASI-HYOOD PRIORY.
depraved young men in the neighbourhood ; scof-
fers at religion and making mock at sin. There
was no wonder why, Louis. No tender parent's
love had taught them of the love of Christ ; of
the unerring signs of fellowship with Him. I
was much with them, both in childhood and vouth,
but never once in my hearing, and others remarked
the same, — never once were the parents known to
remind them that they sinned against God ; never
taught them to strive to enter the strait gate.
I have seen them severely punished for a fault,
often trifling ; but you will hardly believe that with
this, on no one occasion was the slightest allusion
made to the sin committed against God. Louis,"
continued Meredith, after a pause, " God makes
the corn to grow, and orders that men shall build
themselves habitations, and work for their sub-
sistence ; but the corn must be sown, the building
must be raised by man's labour, the sustenance
sought; and the diligent hand makes rich. God
is the giver of all, and the sovereign disposer of
all ; but He chooses that ' man shall work, as if all
depended upon him, and pray, as if nothing depended
upon him. 3 " *
" That is exactly what I think," said Louis :
" there is the promise, ' What a man soweth,
that shall he also reap ;' and there is the command,
' Strive to enter in at the strait gate/ f AVork while
it is called to-day.' "
" I once heard a dear old clergyman remark,"
* Recollections of a remark in a sermon.
DASHWOOD PBIORT. 117
continued Meredith, "one of the most spiritually-
minded Christians I ever beheld, ' / am a Cal-
cinist to-day and an Arminian to-morrow; I find
both in the Bible: "
" I need not ask you, after this morning's ser-
mou/' said Louis, "whether you think it right
to persuade and invite sinners to come to Christ."
A holy smile passed over Meredith's face as he
looked upwards.
" Shall man rebuke those whom Christ suffers
to come ? ' Come uuto Him all ye that labour.
Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters.
The Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that
heareth say come, and whosoever will let him
come/ Read our Lord's sermon on the mount.
Read His declaration on the great day of the feast ;
read all the Acts of the Apostles through. How
did the Apostles preach ? ' Repent.' ' God callcth
upon all men everywhere to repent.' No, Louis ;
poor weak men, encompassed with infirmity, we
ought to have compassion on the ignorant, and
them who art out of the way. We are ambassa-
dors for Christ, to persuade men to lie reconciled
to God. As long us my God gives me a tongue
to proclaim, 1 will cry 'Comb. Free grace; re-
pentance, faith, an- all offered.' There is room
in the Saviour's arms for all. lie died for all."
"Meredith, this has been a blessed Sunday to
me," said Louis, holding OUl his hand to his friend,
which Meredith grasped warmly. " When I have
fancied sometimes that .Mr. Well- might Ik- right,
418 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
my hands have seemed paralyzed ; I have felt I
should in such case feel like him, no interest in
missionary efforts or pastoral aid associations, or
anything by which the knowledge of Christ is
spread. Where would the heathen be, and where
should we have been, had the Apostles been of the
same mind ? Meredith, between High and Low
Church, I have heard and really thought little
lately about missions. I want to hear about your-
self. How is it you are leaving your friends and
home ? I used once to wish to be a missionary,
but lately I have either distrusted my powers, or
have been unwilling to leave all for Christ's sake.
When did you first think of it 1"
" Long ago/' replied Meredith, slowly ; " be-
fore — before I was married, Louis," he said, with
a spasmodic effort. " My dear Mary used to talk
of it with me, and we used to look forward to
going out together; but that was not to be. Our
Heavenly Father saw perhaps I made an idol of
her. It used to be such a dream," he continued,
in a thick voice. " It used to be such a dream to
bring her to Dashwood. Such a twelvemonth of
happiness could not last on earth ; but I never
thought of her removal."
"Dear Meredith," said Louis, "I did not mean
to touch on that again. I am very indiscreet. I
wish we had heard of this before."
" I yearned much for a Dashwood letter, though
I easily divined the cause of your silence," said
Meredith, when he had recovered himself; "but
DASUW00D PRIORY. 419
I could not write myself, and I have been very
much occupied lately, for there has been much to
arrange. I should not have left England this
year perhaps, but an earnest appeal has been
made to me, knowing my intentions, to go to
Africa as early as possible. I could not hesitate,
and it has been mercifully ordered, I doubt not.
I trust I can say with Isaiah, ' Here I am, Lord,
send me;' but, Louis, you cannot tell how
precious every nook of that Rectory had become.
I do not think it was a morbid remembrance of
In!-, for indeed I would not call her back; bur
every thing, every room, almost every chair
reminds me of some sweet act of hers. It will
do me good to speak of her to you. You cannot
tell how she was beloved by high and low : so
sweet, so gentle-hearted, and so true, and yet so
bold in her Saviour's cause. What I owe to her
I cannot tell yon. A helpmate she was in I'wty
sense. So tender her conscience was, and though
loving; me so dcarlv, her love for her Redeemer was
where it shoul;! ever be, a thousand-fold beyond."
Meredith paused a moment, for his voice had
foiled. Presently he continued —
" They say, when a loved one is taken from US,
we are always blind to imperfections j but 1 never
saw any there, Louis: the knew and felt th
but the constant power of restraining grace over-
came them to mortal eyes. I wish you had
her. She \v:i> nut at all beautiful ; even m\
Ibving eyes saw thai ; but do yon Know that halo
9 i "
120 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
peace gives to the countenance, and that sort of
expression in the eyes as if they were looking
beyond, Louis?"
" I have noticed it in several Christians," replied
Louis.
" I never saw it in any one so strongly as
it was in my Mary/' continued Meredith, in a
low quick voice; "and she was always looking
beyond, ' looking to Jesus/ Truly of her it
might be said, ' He that findeth a wife, findeth a
good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.'
I remember so well, last summer, such a night as
this, we had finished all our Sabbath labours of
love, and both were tired ; she unusually so, sat,
as she often loved to sit, on a low stool, with her
arms and head on my knee. There is a lovely
view from my old home ; a wooded country for a
quarter of a mile, and the sea beyond. The sun
was setting, and the calm water reflected all its
colours. We watched its silent sinking below the
horizon, and the rising of the pale moon and
evening star. You know how lovely a time that
is ; it always seems to speak of heaven to me, and
so it did to Mary : perhaps she drew me more to
the observation of it. Suddenly she began to sing —
' Awake and sing the song
Of Moses and the Lamb !'
I joined her ; and oh, how well I remember how
softly and how sweetly she sang two verses. She
broke off at the second, and said, ' I saw a sea of
glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten
DAS II WOOD PIUORY. 421
tlie victory over the beast, and over his image,
and over his mark, and over the number of his
name, Btand on the sea of glass, having the harps
of God ; and they sing the song of Moses, the
servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, say-
ing, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord
God Almighty ; just and true are Thy ways, Thou
king of saints! Who shall not fear Thee, ()
Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art
holy/ Then she looked up at me and said,
' Hastings, how many things in the Revelation I
am reminded of at these hours. How gracious
our blessed Teacher is to enable us to see Him in
His works. Sometimes when I think of all His
love to us both, I am afraid we should forget Him
in His many bounties/ And then she raised her-
self, and spoke so rapturously about the joy of
being always in God's presence — of the eternal
Sabbath we should spend together. I cannot tell
you how rapt her spirit seemed ; and now 1
alraosl wonder no fear stole over me that she w.- -
so lit for heaven, but there was no presentiment
in my mind how near she was to the eoiuinene. -
men! of that eternal Sabbath.
'A dumber < 1 i « 1 my spirits seal,
I had 1 1 • • human fears ;
sin- seemed a tiling that oould not feel
The touch ui earthly \ ears,
*****
' A \ iolel by ;i mossy stone,
Unit bidden From the eye, —
Fail • . w i" n only one
Is shining in the sky.'"
422 DASHAVOOD PRIORY.
Meredith paused, and Louis did not break the
little silence.
" She said to me much that night," he con-
tinued, " about the second coming of Christ :
many things that took me back to Dashwood,
where I heard much of it. I did not know till
then how much she looked forward to that glorious
time, nor had I thought it a duty, as I have since
done, to keep it constantly before my people.
That blessed remembrance is indeed much lost
sight of. Well might our Lord say, ' When the
Son of man cometh, shall He find faith upon the
earth V Truly even the wise sleep. — Dear Mary,
I can recall now the earnestness of her manner
as she said, ' Hastings, that coming will take the
whole world by surprise ; we need constant com-
munion. I often feel a little afraid — Ave have so
happy a home — lest Ave should forget that Ave
have no continuing city here; and that solemn
injunction, " Watch and pray always, that ye may
be counted worthy to escape the things which
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man." ' Then she put her dear hands together in
mine, and asked me to pray for us, that our love
for each other might not be a snare to us. Oh,
Louis ! how she held my hands up. They would
often have been wearied in well-doing."
" And she Avould say the same of you," said
Louis, in a faltering voice.
Another little pause of fond recollection, and
the mourner proceeded, —
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 423
" Just four months ago ; only four short
months, Louis : — you will know my happiness if
it ever pleases God to make you a father. — My
precious little girl ! my lamb in heaven."
"Oh, Meredith \" Louis' eyes were filled with
tears, " vour babv : I did not know vet the whole
of your trial."
" In a fortnight she was laid in our little
churchyard, Louis," said Meredith, bending hi^
head down and speaking low ; " another fortnight.
and the mother was laid by her. Oh, Louis ! the
first was a great grief, but the last — I wonder,"
he added, in a choking voice, " how the worldly
survive the loss of friends, when the children of
God require so much of such support. But the
strength was given according to the day. I often
wonder how I was enabled to be so cheerful, n hen
I knew I must give her up. Thank God!" he
said, reverentially looking upwards with Bwimming
eyes, " I believr I never murmured, inn- wished to
stay His hand. Thank God, though the head was
bent, I could lean it on His bosom ; and there
lie has wiped my tears again and again."
Louis drew his hand across his eyes, and both
were silent for several minutes.
"Ihave Been Beveral death-beds," s.ii.1 Mere-
dith at length, not heeding an effort of Louis t<>
stop him j "Ihave Been one or two happy ones,
and have read of many more, but 1 never heard Or
read of one more triumphant than my dear Man
Every comfort that could be given to a poor u<
424 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
man in his hour of need was given to me then.
Once she turned her sweet eyes upon me as I
supported her head. ' Hastings, you will be so
lonely ? ' It was almost in the form of a question.
I You forget/ I said, ' my own one, He hath
said, " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." '
' Alone, yet not alone/ she murmured ; ' both
separated, yet not alone ; both willing to part ? '
she asked again so anxiously of me. ' Both willing
that the Father's will shall be done ; both rejoic-
ing in His love to them/ I answered. Oh ! Louis,
she looked so gratefully at me, and thanked me
so sweetly for the love I could not have refused ;
and many times I heard her murmur, ' And yet I
am not alone, for the Father is with me/ when
she almost always looked at me as if anxious
to know that I was resting on it, — dear one ! I
had wonderful strength given at that time. When
the last was over (she died in my arms), I felt at
first as if I could not mourn. We had rejoiced
together that she was going to her Father, and I
could only say with Mrs. Graham to her daughter,
I I wish you joy, my darling ! ' and it was not till
rest and recollection came, and that first awaken-
ing from a long deep sleep, that I realized the ful-
ness of my trouble ; that I knew the desire of my
eyes had gone from me. It seemed so strange to
kiss her cold lips, and feel no return ; to go among
our favourite haunts, and miss her : and, Louis, —
oh, Louis ! it was a comfort to me to remember
the ' strong crying ' of our beloved Lord, who is
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 425
afilicted in all the affliction of His people, for lie
has been tried iu all points as we are. The room
in which she died always seems the gate of heaven
to me. "What a meeting ours will be ! Instead
of sinking, I thank God I am now only strength-
ened in zeal, and burn to exalt His cause and
spread His kingdom, that so I may be enabled to
glorify Him in the fires, and press forward. I must
not look back, it is such gain to her. When I look
up, I feel only the Christian's triumph ; but when
we look down to the grave and all its dark ac-
companiments, the spirit fails. You will think of
me when I am away, Louis," he said, rising, "and
pray for me. I shall need all prayers ; and ' pray
that the Lord of the harvest will send forth more
labourers into His harvest.' "
Louis grasped Meredith's hand, and detained
him a moment. He could not speak at first,
though the brave spirit of his friend had infused
some of its exulting tone into his heart.
".Meredith, you are a living witness of God's
power iu upholding His own in the day of trouble.
I have been very tearful, often fearing possible
afflictions. You have strengthened 1110."
Meredith pressed his hand.
" Never doubt His love or strength.
' Tis Jefua, the lir-t and the
WboM Spirit thai! guide a * Mfe ln«mo ;
\\ • II prai e II im for nil thai i
And tract 1 1 im for ;i!l that'i t" oomo. 1 "
The friends parted. lis knelt long that
425 DASHWCOD PRIORY.
night in prayer. There were many things to
bring before his God. Thanksgiving for the good
he had received that day, and earnest desires that
any error he might have propagated among the
people committed to his temporary care might not
take root; and petitions for the renewal of a con-
stant spirit and a right judgment in all things ;
forgiveness for his pride and anger against Mr.
Wells, for whom, as well as his dear friends, he
prayed that God would teach and keep them;
and oh ! how earnest were his resolves to undo,
if possible, in the parish any evil he might have
been the means of strengthening or spreading in
his mistaken zeal.
DASHWOOD PEIORT. 427
CHAPTER XXVIII.
" Then I saw in my dream, that in the morning the shep-
herds called up Christian and Hopeful, to walk with tliem upon
the mountains. So they went forth with them, and walked
awhile, having a pleasant prospect on every side. Then Baid
the .shepherds one to another, Shall we show thi se pilgrims some
wonders I So when they bad concluded to do it, they led them
first to the top of a hill called Error, which was very steep on
th farthest side, and bid them look down to the bottom.
So Christian and Hopeful looked down, and saw at the bottom
several men dashed all to pieces by a fall which they had from
the top. Then said Christian, What meaueth this ? * * * *
Then said the shepherds, Those that you see dashed in pieces
at the bottom of thi mountain are an example to others, to
take heed how they clamber too high, or how they come too
near the brink of this mountain." — Bwnyarit Pilgrim' » Progrett.
But this last resolve seemed beyond his power
to accomplish, fur the next evening Trevannion
returned. It is, alas! in our power to do evil by
our unguarded conduct and precept, the extent of
which may be incalculable, and the opportunity
of annulling it never be given. So Louis thought.
He could only hope in his sorrow, thai he had
not held these opinions Long enough, nor declared
them distinctly enough, to have made any impres-
sion; nor was he aware how much this was really
the case, through an overruling Providence;
that by his congregation he \\;is considered to be
428 DAsnwoon priory.
entirely free from the errors of his vicar, while
there was so much true piety visible in all that
he did and said, that that only made its impres-
sion. Among the poor these erroneous doctrines
never make much way. They are not suited to
the poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked, to
those who have been brought up in sin and igno-
rance, and to those who have nothing in life to
make them love it ; they want something more
real and solid. The refined, the intellectual, the
poetical, the reverential, the seriously minded, the
man of taste, and the young, full of crude notions of
priestly authority, who love to magnify the clerical
office ; these, where there is no vital religion, may
be ready to embrace them : for there is something
wonderfully fascinating to human pride and under-
standing therein. And there may be some few of
God's own children who, through some mysterious
permission of the Almighty, partially embrace this
system; but we shall always find it is partial:
there is a something that ever betrays them as in
the corruption, but not of it : and such was
Nevinson. His education, his circumstances, had
all been different to Louis' ; and perhaps most of
those things on which they differed were but
words, and not matter. Louis w r as still learning
the same lessons he had been receiving for four-
teen years, — that though man may increase in age
and learning, he cannot stand alone. If he thinks
he stands, he will assuredly fall. If he lean on
human understanding, he and his prop will fall
DASHWOOD PRIOHY. IM9
together, lie had also learned another useful
lesson from his own trials here, that "the wrath
of man Avorketh not the righteousness of God •" —
that "the servant of the Lord must not striw.
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach in meek-
ness, instructing those Avho oppose themselves ;"
that however much we may differ on the subject
of man's free will, we are constrained to use every
power of persuasion, every talent for making our
Lessona lovely and pleasant; and above all, every
effort to make our lives speak, so that all men
shall take knowledge of us that we have been
with Jesus, and shall heed our words as those
which come from His disciples.
Meredith left E early on the Monday
morning, and as we have already said, Trevannion
returned in the evening. Louis remained a week
longer at E , during which time some unplea-
sant words passed between him and Trevannion ;
the latter at first desiring to secure Louis' services
altogether, and on Louis' open avowal of his
opposing sentiments, parting very coldly from
him. He was as angry as he ever allowed him-
self to be, on hearing of Meredith's preaching in
his church, as well as at the slight innovations
made during his absence;; and before Louis had
been a fortnight in his happy home, all Vfas
restored to more than its former state of cold
solemnity, and the church nearly emptied. Louis
had become again accustomed to his own old
duties, when one day a letter from NevinsOD
430 DASHWOOD PRIORY.
arrived, informing him that Trevannion had begun
to teach the choristers the responses in Latin,
and had instituted a confessional in the church,
and that he (Nevinson) was so shocked at these
symptoms, that he had given up his curacy. Not
three weeks after, a paragraph in a London paper
announced the fact, that the Reverend Philip Tre-
vannion had seceded from the Church of England,
and had left E ■ for Rome. Another long-
letter from Nevinson followed this shortly. He
expressed himself much shocked at the conclusion
of Trevannion's career, and wrote very seriously
aud satisfactorily, informing Louis that he had
lately known so many perversions to Rome, that
it had set him thinking whether these High-church
principles were Bible principles ; and he had been
induced, after much prayer and examination, to
give up some of his prejudices and practices, still,
however, retaining the greatest reverence and love
for his own church. Louis thought often of, and
prayerfully for his old charge, longing to learn
whether the new appointment was satisfactorily
made in the most important respect, and thinking
painfully of the poor, large, dark population in
its courts and allevs, often in his anxictv crying
out, " Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth."
Nearly two months after Trevannion's secession,
to his great astonishment, an offer of the living
to himself came from the trustees. Half-delighted,
half-afraid, Louis opened his heart to the Lord,
before even mentioning the contents of his letter
DASHWOOD PKIOKY. 431
to his parents. After many earnest supplications
ibr guidance, he accepted the living, and not long
afterwards entered upon it, to the great delight of
his old people. And now he began many refor-
mations. There was no curtailing of the services,
for Louis loved them, and loved to invite others
to the house of God ; but the chancel was thrown
open, the choristers were divested of their sur-
plices, a new reading-desk erected on a line with
the pulpit, and the black robe substituted for the
surplice in the pulpit. Louis was not less careful
about the singing of the church than before, for
he rightly looked upon it as a very important part
of the worship ; but he endeavoured, and finally
in a measure succeeded, in establishing more con-
gregational singing. Missionary sermons were
now preached in the church, and efforts made to
create a spirit of zeal among the people for
assisting in the spreading of Christ's kingdom.
Quietly, but surely, hanging upon his God, did
Louis work, endeavouring to check display and
religious dissipation among his flock ; while he
strove, at the same time, to represent to them,
thai the people Christ has chosen are a peculiar
people, zealous of good works. These reforma-
tions and this activity were not, of COUrse, e fleeted
at once ; but we have the sure promise, and Louis
found it, that in due Beasou we shall reap, if we
faint not.
Louis in time established a kind of little lecture
or school-room in each court where a vacant room
432 DASH WOOD PRIORY.
could be found, and endeavoured to rouse the
poor ignorant miserable ones to something better,
by mixing himself as far as he was able with them,
and showing that if he looked after their worldly
prosperity, it was with the hope of leading them
to something higher ; and that if the thought of
something higher had been absent, he could never
have considered their present wants. He much
desired to have his friend Nevinson with him ; but
that friend was now comfortably settled in his
native place, and after a time the vacant curacy
was filled by Hubert, a younger brother of Frank
Digby's, to whom Louis gave a title to orders.
About a twelvemonth after Louis' final depar-
ture from his childhood's home, the bells of
Dashwood Church rang merrily for a most im-
portant event, — the marriage of Miss Mortimer to
Edward Hamilton, Esq., barrister-at-law. Louis
was there to perform the ceremony ; and a gay
wedding it was ; but it was hard to say whether
tears or smiles prevailed at the departure of the
village darling, missed sadly as she would be in
hall and cottage. Reginald and Neville were
there, and Master Freddy performed the im-
portant office of groomsman to his brother-in-law.
To Louis especially the new relationship was an
event of unmixed satisfaction.
The last news from old friends was, that there
was a rumour at E and at Dashwood, that
Mr. Louis Mortimer was about to follow the
DASHWOOD PRIORY. 133
example of his friend and new brother, and the
rumour daily gains credit that Miss Fanny Salis-
bury is the lady who lias promised to make our
hero happy, and to share with him the pleasant
cares of his beloved office.
Dashwood Priory has become a very quiet place.
Reginald left for the Cape almost immediately after
his sister's marriage. Neville is settled in London,
and only Freddy remains at home, to take the
place which Louis first filled, — that of his father's
curate. It is ever thus in this world; changes
and partings all come to remind us that we have
here no continuing city. Happy are they, who
seeking one to come, have laid up their treasures
where neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through and steal.
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