very idle, as generous as if he had the means of being so; always in a scrape, and mostly for other boys, whom he would sooner have died for than betrayed. Many a time did he do a theme or copy of verses for a friend, and submit to a flogging for not having done his own exercise. Such were the two boys-I beg their pardon-young men, who were to "know each other at home," by the express wishes of their respective and respectable fathers and mothers.

CHAP. III.

SEVEN o'clock was announced by the bell of a beautiful ormolu clock on the marble mantel-shelf of the Coopers, as Bouverie entered the drawing-room; he was immediately surrounded by a host of titled friends, who congratulated him on having reached his seventeenth birthday. His father, who liked to have his generous nature known and appreciated, came forward and made a speech. Upon the conclusion of it he drew out a magnificent gold watch, and threw a chain, attached to it, over his son's waistcoat, and fell upon his neck weeping, amidst the applause of the assembled guests.

Bouverie was annoyed beyond measure, for gratified as he was by the receipt of the gold watch, he felt that "the governor was making an ass of himself," and shook him off as soon as he could. This he might have failed in doing so quickly as he did, had not the sound of a lumbering vehicle, succeeded by such a rap as no west-end footman ever perpetrated, been heard by the company.

"Here comes that snob, Byshe, I'll lay a pony," whispered Bouverie to his father.

He was right, for Mrs. Byshe had been employed for some hours in the morning impressing upon her footman's mind the necessity of giving such a prolonged application to the knocker in Harley-street, as should convince the neighbours that citizens' servants knew how to rap at a door.

"What a bore this is!" said Bouverie,

"Never mind, my love," replied his mother, "submit to it like an angel as you are."

Richardson Byshe was ushered into the drawing-room, and although Mrs. Cooper and her friends had been led to expect a perfect barbarian in his person, they could find no fault either with his dress or manner. Before the evening was ended, Byshe had so schooled himself as to leave an impression upon the mind of every one that he was "a most gentlemanly-a most superior young man." He had taken a lesson out of the Joseph Surface school, and talked sentiment to the ladies, and twaddle to the old gentlemen.

"How did he succeed with his young friend?" asks my curious reader.

"Admirably. He did not appear to court his acquaintance, but was rather reserved than not, until Bouverie, at a hint from his mother, exerted himself to bring his friend out.

How it happened, Bouverie even in after life could not explain satisfactorily; but he formed an intimacy with Byshe, which ensured him a rank at Westminster that he had never dared to hope for, and a footing in London society, which his mother considered as little short of that of royalty itself.

Aug.-VOL. LXXIV. No. CCXCVI.

2 x

When the time arrived for their quitting Westminster, Bouverie Cooper was not a little surprised to hear his friend say, that instead of accompanying him to Cambridge as he had intended, he had changed his mind, and meant to take a desk in his father's counting-house.

"You don't mean it, old fellow? What! secure indigestion and a tallowy countenance, by sitting for ten hours daily on a high stool, with a governor rolling in riches? Don't turn pen-nibber, and foolscapscraper, when you have an opportunity of being a gentleman. I only wish that my paternity was as rich as yours is. I would not even read for a degree, but merely pass a year or two at Cambridge because it is comme il faut to do so.

Byshe smiled as he replied, "It is true that my father is wealthy, and if I were his only child I might think as you do, and cut the countinghouse; but when my brothers and sisters are provided for, my share of the family cake will be but a small one."

"Twenty or thirty thousand, perhaps? Quite enough if you like to take to a gentlemanly profession-the bar for instance-let us begin Coke upon Littleton together, and see which gets on fastest."

66

No; I do not mind owning it to you. I have not abilities enough for the law, neither have I interest enough to push me on. With you the case is different-you are possessed of talents of the highest order, and have friends able and willing to forward your views. I fully reckon upon seeing you upon the woolsack, and as a step to it you shall represent the constituents of Bloomby in Parliament as soon as you are qualified to do so."

"I thank you, Richardson, that is too good an offer to be declinedbut you will run down to Cambridge and see me now and then.”

"Be assured of it, if you think that your friends there will not look coldly on a merchant's clerk," said Byshe.

Come down

"Nonsense, old fellow; you know when I took you by the hand, the greatest swells in Westminster were eager to cultivate you. as often as you can and rely upon a hearty welcome," said Bouverie. "Well; now I will say farewell, and wish you luck," said Byshe. "If it must be so, good bye, old fellow, but I-that is you-do not want that twenty pounds you were good enough to lend me, eh? I am rather short just now, and I do not like to apply to the governor, for he has to stump up for my matriculation fees, and all sorts of things that are demanded on going into residence at the university-I will take an early opportunity of-"

"Do not say another word about it-you can just give me a mem. of it-an I. O. U., or something of that kind," said Byshe.

"Hang his trading notions," said Bouverie Cooper to himself.

"It is of no consequence, you know, but in matters of business it is just as well to be regular," said Byshe.

"Well, I don't understand these sort of things-do you draw up any thing you like, and I will sign it."

Byshe drew a stamp from his pocket-book, and wrote a note of hand for the twenty pounds, payable on demand, which Bouverie signed without even taking the precaution to read it.

"That will do," said Byshe, as he replaced the stamp in his book, "I shall not negotiate it, and you can pay me when it is convenient."

They parted. Bouverie went to Cambridge, and during his three years' residence received some half dozen visits from his friend, but somehow or another he was never in cash, and the note of hand was not taken up when he had taken his degree, and left the university; where his career had been so satisfactory that he returned home loaded with honours and -debts. Of these, however, he thought but little. He had revealed the state of his affairs to his father, who, though greatly shocked at the amount of his liabilities, had promised to liquidate them by instalments, to which plan no opposition was offered by the parties to whom the debts were due.

Mr. Richardson Byshe, to whom Bouverie Cooper had revealed his pecuniary troubles looked very grave, and seemed inclined to suggest payment of his note of hand-but did not. He merely read his friend a lecture on the impropriety of not paying ready money for every thing, and left him rather suddenly, as if he was afraid of being asked for another loan.

CHAP. IV.

OLD Time went on steadily, as he always does, though he "takes his glass" hourly. Bouverie Cooper had read hard and been called to the

bar. Of his old friend Byshe he saw but little, for their pursuits were so different that they met but seldom, and then only by especial invitation.

Byshe had succeeded to his father's business, and married a lady, the daughter of a wealthy stock-broker. He still resided in the city, although he had been often tempted by his lady to take a suburban villa, and live like other people. His reply was, "Economy, my dear, economy." Money was Byshe's god, and never did a worshipper display more zeal in the service of his deity than did Richardson Byshe. He rose with the light of day, and laboured on until night put an end to his labours, and his most delightful dreams were those in which his thoughts were running on the gold already accumulated, and likely to be accumulated by the bold but promising speculations in which he indulged.

Gold, still gold,

as poor Hood sung, was his cry from sunny morn to dewy eve. 'Every thing was sacrificed for its attainment, even his word of honour given to a friend, as we shall see if the reader will accompany me into the little back-room which was called his own, and wherein he transacted all business of a secret or important nature.

"Carriage at door, sir--grand turn out-arms on panels-coachman in bob-wig in front-two footmen with large canes behind-shall I admit?" inquired the head clerk.

"Admit by all means," said Byshe; "some one wanting a loan, no doubt."

In a few minutes a little dapper gentleman was ushered in, who, as soon as the door was closed behind him, announced himself as Lord Jenkins Fussy. Byshe knew him to be a hanger on of the government, and a man who was said to negotiate for it any dirty work that it was ashamed to do for itself. He hoped to reap a reward in some snug appointment at some future day.

Richardson Byshe placed a chair for his little lordship, and making him a profound bow, silently waited to hear him announce the object of his

visit. This seemed to be no easy task, for his lordship fidgetted about in his chair, took several huge pinches of snuff as quickly as he could, and made some very learned observations on the murkiness of a London atmosphere, to all of which Byshe replied with a bow. At last his lordship broke cover.

"Sad job-sad job-melancholy in the extreme-aint it? whew!" which "whew!" must represent to the reader a peculiar low whistle, with which Lord Jenkins Fussy always concluded his remarks.

"I do not know to what you allude, my lord," said Byshe. "Then it's all right! whew!"

"What is all right, my lord ?"

"Bloomby-Bloomby, sir. You haven't heard, eh ?-but I always get the earliest information of every thing. I give you joy. Poor Plumpley Smith is dead-fell down in a fit not four hours ago-whew! The borough is vacant, and we know that you can return the memberwhew!"

"I am sorry for Smith's family-his loss will be felt severely; but I am glad that his seat is vacant, as I shall have an opportunity of fulfilling a promise made to a friend-a rising young barrister whom your lordship doubtly knows and appreciates—I allude to Mr. Bouverie Cooper, the son of-"

"Yes, I know him-I know him-devilish shrewd fellow! but he will keep till another vacancy-he is young-whew!" said and whistled his lordship.

"But, my lord, I have promised to use my interest for him, and the word of a British merchant is-"

"Whew! I know all that, but listen to me."

His lordship went close to Richardson Byshe, and standing on tip-toe, whispered something into his ear.

"Is it possible!" said Byshe.

"A fact-a most extraordinary fact. He stood for Gabbleton, and failed in spite of the government interest. We must have him in directly -Bloomby will be just the thing. You can carry it, and"-here his lordship again whispered, and the only words that could be heard by any one but Byshe himself were, "government contract-on the most advantageous terms-clear thirty thousand at least-whew!"

Mr. Byshe was so amazed, that he sunk into a chair, and stared at his little lordship, unable to answer him.

"That will do I see you understand-the moment the attorney-general is in for Bloomby, Mr. Richardson Byshe signs the contract for I don't know how many puncheons of rum, acres of blue cloth and scarlet cloth, and-eh? whew!"

His lordship said no more. Byshe nodded, and in a few days the attorney-general was gazetted M.P. for the borough of Bloomby.

Mr. Richardson Byshe did clear thirty thousand pounds by the govern. ment contract, but he did not clear his character with the world—that is, the little west-end-of-the-town world who heard the lamentations of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper anent the disgraceful conduct towards their son, displayed by a mere citizen, whom they had patronised expressly for the purpose of insuring his interest in the borough of Bloomby.

"And how did Bouverie Cooper submit to his disappointment ?" inquires my curious reader.

With the greatest philosophy. He was a government man- by which I merely mean that he was of the same politics as the then existing party in power-and thought that his friend Byshe had displayed more patriotism than he had given him credit for, in insuring a seat in the house for his majesty's attorney-general. He knew nothing whatever of the contract that Lord Jenkins Fussy had insured to the patriotic merchant.

CHAP. V.

WELL, old Time went steadily on. He used his scythe with his wonted vigour, and mowed down his crops of human beings. Amongst the swarms that fell under the sharp edge of his "agricultural implement," were found the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper. A violent fever of an endemic or epidemic character sealed their earthly fate in one and the same week. Bouverie was deeply grieved at his loss, though he knew not the extent of it until after the funeral of his kind and over-indulgent parents had been performed and he had held a conversation with the family lawyer.

Then he found that, after discharging all the debts due to various tradesmen and mortgagees, the house in Harley-street, and about one hundred and ninety-five pounds per annum were all that remained to him that he could call his own, excepting the furniture, plate, and a few dozens of very good wine.

He resolved to let the house and settle in chambers, by which wise resolve he added sufficient to his income, to enable him, with rigid economy to "carry on the war," until his success at the bar should afford him the means of living in a style more nearly approaching to that to which he had been all his life accustomed.

"And did he succeed at the bar?" asks my curious reader.

I am happy to be able to reply in the affirmative. He got a fair share of the many briefs that were flying about, and was in a fair way of making his fortune, which he would doubtless have done, had he not met with a shocking bad accident. One day he fell—

"From his horse, or a gig, or into the river?"

Neither, reader, he fell in love.

"And you call that a shocking bad accident?"

I do, reader, when it is attended with the serious consequences that Bouverie's fall was attended with. He married, and his wife had not a penny either in esse or posse. She was very pretty, it is true, and very amiable-but she could not boast of any relations or acquaintances likely to benefit her husband in his professional pursuits; so that the few hundreds per annum which sufficed to make him easy and comfortable while he was located in chambers, required a great deal of managing to enable him to make both ends of the year meet when he resumed the house in Harley-street.

If Mrs. Bouverie Cooper did not bring her husband any fortune, she brought him something else—a great number of children, for at the close of the eighth year of their happy union, he saw eleven little olive branches around his frugal table.

Oh, Gemini !" exclaims my curious reader.

Exactly, madam, that is the only way of accounting for the fact. Well, Bouverie was very happy, and laughed with his little wife over what other persons might have called their misfortunes. He worked