After this, for several weeks, my pupil
repaired to the house of his friend every
night, from nine till twelve, where he told me
that he was making immense progress, and
could now read, with perfect ease, the play of
William Tell. I remarked, however, that he
continued to address the waiters in English,
as heretofore, probably from a feeling of
bashfulness. Once or twice I met him walking in
the street with Schiller and a lady—Mrs.
Schiller, I was told—a very beautiful, and,
indeed, quite English-looking woman.

"Things had been going on in this way for
some time, when one morning I received a
brief but peremptory letter from Canute
Castle, ordering our immediate return to
England. Phelim, I thought, looked rather
uncomfortable; but there was no help for it.
We departed, and got back safely. It was
nightfall when our post-chaise drew up in the
great Ostro-Gothic archway. I shall not
easily forget the countenance of the Earl as
he advanced to meet us. Without noticing
his son, he bade me follow him to his study—
a small apartment, adorned with a picture of
King Canute, the founder of the family, who
is represented in the act of throwing cold
water upon the flattery of his followers. I
remember glancing vaguely at this picture as
I went in, and wondering at the extraordinary
likeness which the present earl bore to
his ancestor. This seemed to me to be a
great phenomenon. It was a painting of
Sir Thomas Laurence's, I think.

"Without offering me a chair, the earl asked
me in a stern voice for what purpose I had
gone abroad with his son. I replied,
wondering very much at his tone and manner,
that I had gone as tutor, of course. Had I
discharged my trust? I answered, that to
the best of my ability I had. How then could
I account for the fact, that during the last
month my pupil had gambled away, in a
private hell at Baden-Baden, a sum of more
than eight hundred pounds, as he, the Earl,
could prove on information which admitted
of no doubt? I was thunderstruck, and
declared, with perfect truth, that I had
entertained no idea that such a thing was going
on.

"'That is difficult to believe,' interposed
Lord Canute, 'when I am informed to a
certainty that this little fool of a boy was
engaged at play for three or four hours every
evening. You must have missed him during
that time, Mr.—'

"I related the imposition which had been
practised on me in regard to Schiller.

"'Pooh! Pooh!' replied his Lordship, 'a
man of twenty-seven is not quite a babe in
arms. He must have acquired a little
experience by that time.

"'I don't know, though, on the whole,' he
continued, after a short pause, 'whether it
may not be true, as you say. You have been
hitherto Fellow of a College, I believe, and—
ah well! perhaps it was my fault. Here,
Sir, is a cheque for five hundred pounds, your
full salary. But it is, of course, unnecessary
for me to say, that your services will be
no longer required.' I bowed and withdrew,
thinking, in spite of myself, that with his air
of mild reproachfulness, he looked more like
King Canute than ever.

"We actually managed to live for more than
fourteen months on these five hundred pounds,
which kept continually diminishing as our
family increased. Our little twins, too, Knox
(so called from the Reverend Cephas Knox,
our rector) and his brother Erebus had been
afflicted, according to my wife, with divers
infantine complaints, which I, for my part,
was never able to perceive, but which cost a
great deal of money, some part of which I
think she devoted to the purchase of a new
gown. At the end of this time it was
absolutely necessary to rouse ourselves. Charles,
meanwhile, had been extending his business
very much, and would soon be in a position to
lend me a helping hand. I was determined,
however, never to solicit assistance from that
quarter, while I had health and strength
left to aid myself. Independently of any
feeling of delicacy prompting me to this
resolution, I knew that people would cry
out if James, 'who has received a College
Education, and should be fit for anything,'
were the one to solicit assistance from Charles
'who has not, poor fellow! enjoyed such
advantages.'

"One morning, it was suggested to me by
some one or other, that I should turn literary
man, and join the 'Mudborough Gazette,'
which would be sure to avail itself at once
of my offer to become a contributor. No
sooner had the idea been put into my
head, than I walked off to the residence of
the Editor, a neat villa in the outskirts of the
town. He was a good boon companion and
an elder at his meeting-house, and could be
charged with only one falling in the wide world,
which was that of beating his wife. Even
for this solitary failing there was an excuse
to be made, for she was in the habit of charging
him with nightly inebriety, which charge
being strictly true, was, of course, doubly
provoking. I think that when I knocked at
the door, I interrupted him in his usual
occupation, for I heard shrieks in the back
parlour, and he came out to meet me with a very
red face. He, however, showed me into his
study; my errand was soon explained, and
he appeared to jump at my offer.

"'To have such a distinguished man as
yourself connected with our paper, will give
us great pleasure, Sir.'

''It was agreed that I should commence
with a leading article on the approaching
trial of Queen Caroline. I was to 'give it'
to George the Fourth, and to draw tears for
Caroline.

"'An unhappy female, Sir, ill-treated by a
monster of a man!' as the Editor said, showing
me to the door.