in dropping cigar-ashes into the punch of his dolorous neighbour, and winking, with an extraordinary expression of countenance, at a red-haired boy, who sat opposite, and who was just then employed upon the delightful task of balancing a fork upon his chin for his own particular diversion. Samuel Skinner was writing his name on the table with his fore-finger, and some spilt punch, and the remainder of the young gentlemen were listening, in various states of approaching stupefaction, to a story from a wide-mouthed youth, which no one seemed thoroughly to comprehend.

It was at this interesting epoch, I say, that Perigrine Pultuney got upon his legs, and began to return thanks in what is called " a neat speech." He commented very forcibly upon the delights of rumpunch, good fellowship, and Havannah cigars, and the numberless vicissitudes of human life, that separated school-fellows, broke up cricket-clubs, and were the cause of the present meeting. He assured his friends, in elegant Latin, that necessity had no laws, that the onward progress of time was ever laden with change, that men are the slaves of circumstances, and other important assurances equally philosophic and original. He then reverted very touchingly to the pleasant days he had passed in the society of his assembled friends, paid an elegant and very proper tribute to "Mr. President's illustrious namesake, hang him," and apostrophized in Sapphic metre a gentleman named Posthumous. He

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then began to sum up the various undertakings in which he had been lately engaged-spoke of cricket, foot-ball, and hockey, and made a mystical allusion to the "Rising Sun," which the young gentlemen present supposed to bear reference to a public-house of that name. "Nor must I forget," he continued, "that ingenious contrivance of more recent invention, whereby we members of this noble institution, entitled the Senior-room,' are enabled to communicate with the worthy citizens of this town, at all hours of the night, without disturbing the excellent family with whom we are resident, or imposing an additional labour upon the menial adherents of this establishment. Yes, gentlemen, it is a consolatory thought that we have thus been enabled to promote our own interests and amusements without giving any uneasiness to our respected host, Dr. Radix, or the other members of his very esteemed and very estimable family."

It was at the very moment that this panegyric was being uttered, a pleasant smile having illuminated the speaker's face, that the physiognomy of the nervous young gentleman, who sat next to the door, was observed to become pale as whitewash, and moreover unwontedly elongated. Vincent

Vaux, left off flicking the lemon-pips. Horace Styles, dropped his pig, and Samuel Skinner's finger was arrested in the pool of punch that he had just dipped it into. As for Peregrine Pultuney, that young gentleman was so wrapped up in his sub

ject, that he was ignorant of these strange prognostics, and, being hurried away by the strength of his feelings, he continued to eulogize the Radix family-until its very estimable head, the renowned doctor, himself, opened the door and stood before him, to return thanks in person for the compliment.

Yes; there, in his every-day dress of black-andall black, stood Dr. Radix himself, surveying with a benign aspect this assembly of his young friends; and benevolent as his intentions may have been, his sudden and spectral appearance amongst them, had the effect of transmuting them to stone-all except Peregrine Pultuney, who took the opportunity of this pause in the proceedings, to transfer from the table to his pocket all the cigars not previously expended.

"And this is the way you amuse yourselves, is it, young gentlemen?" observed Dr. Radix, as he blew out the two candles on the table, and held his own in such a position as to enable him to see well around him. No one made any answer to this, so the worthy gentleman having put an unanswerable question, resolved to say nothing more, but went through the remainder of his proceedings in dumb show. Carrying off certain spolia opima in the shape of half a bottle of brandy, and one-third of rum; he then walked out of the room, leaving his young friends to find their way to bed, as they best could, in the dark.

The comments passed, after his departure, on

this unwarrantable proceeding, were neither very numerous nor striking. Peregrine Pultuney contented himself with observing that they need not now put by the things, which was one bore saved them at all events-Vincent Vaux said, that it was a good thing they had not been interrupted earlier, and the nervous gentlemen observed, that "he didn't care"-after which they all went to sleep, and dreamt of Newgate and the gallows.

Thus ended the memorable party, and the sequel thereunto we shall somewhat briefly relate.

On the following morning, about ten o'clock, it being play-time, Master Peregrine Pultuney was closeted with Dr. Radix in the reverend gentleman's study, a room of moderate dimensions, uncommonly full of lexicons, dictionaries, and forfeited articles belonging to the boys. Our hero's head was drooping, and his eyes glistening, from which circumstance it may be imagined that he had been flogged; but it would have taken a great number of floggings to wring a tear from Peregrine Pultuney.

The conversation that had passed between the old gentleman and the young one, in substance resembled this;

"Pultuney," said the worthy doctor, in a really sorrowful voice, "I am afraid you were one of the most active in the strange proceedings of last night." "I am afraid, sir, I was," returned Peregrine Pultuney.

"I am sorry for it, Pultuney, very sorry; for

these are things I must take notice of, when reported to me," continued the doctor.

"Confound those ushers," soliloquised Peregrine Pultuney. "I should like to meet them, after I leave, one by one, in a dark lane."

"Were you the instigator of this party?" asked the doctor, in a mild voice.

"I was the sole cause of it," said Peregrine Pultuney.

"You invited the rest then, I suppose."

"No, sir," said Peregrine Pultuney.

"You proposed the party then," suggested the doctor.

"No, sir," returned Peregrine Pultuney.

The good doctor was puzzled.

"How then," he said, " were you the cause of it?" "I had rather not answer that, sir," replied Peregrine Pultuney; "but if you please, sir, I was the cause of it, and I hope you will take my word."

"Your word, Pultuney, I never doubted-you never yet told me a lie: but it is strange;" and as he said this, he put his head out of the window, which opened into the play-ground, and cried, "Vincent Vaux, come here."

Vincent Vaux came. He well knew what he was summoned for, but he was a brave boy and not easily cowed. He looked at Peregrine Pultuney, who happening just then to be in the rear of the doctor, put out his tongue and made an indescribable face.