of the town. We were turning down the Haymarket, when whom, to my utter horror and consternation, should I see crossing to meet us, but my old warmhearted, but severe and peppery uncle, Sir Thomas.

-?

To escape was impossible.-A cart before, and two carriages behind, made us stationary; and I mentally resigned all idea of ever succeeding to his five thousand per annum. Up he came. "What! can I believe my eyes? George? what the do you here? Tandem too, by

(I leave blanks for the significant accompaniments which dropped from his mouth like pearls, and rubies in the fairy tale, when he was in a passion.) I have it, thought I, as an idea crossed my mind which I resolved to follow. I looked right and left, as if it was not possible it could be me he was addressing.—“ What! you don't know me, you young dog? Don't you know your uncle? Why, Sir, in the name of common sensee-Pshaw! you've

done with that. Why in Cambridge?"

-name a'nt you at "At Cambridge, Sir?" said I. "At Cambridge, Sir," he repeated, mimicking my affected astonishment; "why I suppose you never were at Cambridge!-Oh! you young spendthrift; is this the manner you dispose of my allowance? Is this the way you read hard? you young profliSeeing he was

ga.e, you young

you

getting energetic, I began to be apprehensive of a scene; and resolved to drop the curtain at once.

66

Really, Sir," said I, with as brazen a look as I "I have not

could summon upon emergency,

the honour of your acquaintance." His large eyes assumed a fixed stare of astonishment.

must confess you have the advantage of me.

"I

Ex

cuse me; but, to my knowledge, I never saw you before.”—“A torrent, I perceived, was coming.— "Make no apologies, they are unnecessary. Your next rencontre will, I hope, be more fortunate though your finding your country cousin in London

is like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay.Bye, bye, old buck." The cart was removed, and I drove off, yet not without seeing him, in a paroxysm of rage, half frightful, half ludicrous, toss his hat on the ground, and hearing him exclaim" He disowns me! the jackanapes! disowns his own uncle by

Poor Philip Chichester's look of amazement at this finished stroke of impudence is present, at this instant, to my memory. I think I see his face, which at no time had more expression than a turnip, assume that air of a pensive simpleton, d'un mouton qui rêve, which he so often and so successfully exhibited over an incomprehensible problem in "Principia." "Well! you've done it.Dished completely. What could induce you to be such a blockhead ?" said he. "The family of the blockheads, my dear Phil," I replied, "is far too creditably established in society to render their alliance disgraceful. I'm proud to belong to so

prevailing a party." "Pshaw! this is no time for joking. What's to be done?" "Why, when does a man want a joke, Phil, but when he is in trouble? However, adieu to badinage, and hey or Cambridge, instantly." "Cambridge?" "In the twinkling of an eye-not a moment to be lost. My uncle will post there with four horses instantly; and my only chance of avoiding that romantic misfortune of being cut off with a shilling, is to be there before him.

Without settling the bill at the inn, or making a single arrangement, we dashed back to Cambridge. Never shall I forget the mental anxiety I endured on my way there. Every thing was against us. A heavy rain had fallen in the night, and the roads were wretched, the traces broke― turnpike gates were shut-droves of sheep and carts impeded our progress; but in spite of all these obstacles, we reached the college in less than six hours. "Has Sir Thomas --- been here?