Chorus of many voices, each boy addressing his neighbor." Be quiet, why do you speak without orders?"

tation which his Western superior will allow. | but you are committing the same fault; why The English inspector returns the salute of do you talk without orders? All are to be the boys, and disposes of that of the teacher quiet till they are told to speak.' with an action rather than a word; the action implying partly, "I am very much obliged to you for your civility," partly, "Stand up; I also am a man. The salutations are over; business commences. Let us adopt the dramatic notation, and endeavor thus to exhibit what follows:

Inspector despairs. He struggles through the roll-call as he may, and feels that he is met at the outset by the first great Asiatic difficulty-incontinence of speech.

He desires the first class to be called up. He inquires the caste and profession of each boy. The profession of the son is that of the father. The castes are proclaimed :that boy is a Brahmin, that is a Shaikh ; this gentleman is a Sayud; this is a slave; and "Oh, you Boota (son of a prostitute), come here!" At the name of Boota several lads start up; it is as common a name as Smith; but at the specification all the other Bootas sit down, and the son of the prostitute, in no way injured in his own estimation or that of others by the appellation, walks up to join the class. The name is not in the last intended or felt as an insult. It is simply a fact that he is the son of a prostitute, and so he is called. Other boys have their caste and trade-this is his. "And what for no?" is the unexpressed native

The first five boys answer to their names; addition, which points the whole transaction the sixth is absent.

Inspector calls his name." Shir Singh !" Several voices.- "Shir Singh is ill." Inspector." Silence. Did I not tell you that only the boy whose name was called is to speak? If a boy is absent, let me know it by his silence. Nobody is to answer for him. I shall begin again."

with a deep moral signification.

The first class is now assembled. The Inspector addresses himself to the gentleman Sayud at the top of the class. A Sayud is the Brahmin of Mahomedans, and the teacher, who is but a Shaikh, would blush to put the "Sayud Sahib" elsewhere than at the top of the school. Well, what has Inspector calls over the first five names with the Sayud been learning? He has read that the same success as formerly. He approaches wonderful book of Shaikh Sâddi's, the Guthat rubicon, Shir Singh. "Now, take care, listân, which has well deserved to be in itself no one is to answer ;-Shir Singh ! the literature, almost the religion of a nation : Small Boy." Shir Singh is ill." he knows all the curious turns of expression; Inspector.- Who said that?" he knows all the verbal conceits; but he has Omnes.- -" Please sir, Ramlall." missed, and so indeed has his teacher and Inspector reads Ramlall a serious lecture. his teacher's teacher, the Solomon-like wisHe impresses the duty of silence, and em- dom which lies concealed in those epigram phatically demands that no boy shall speak matic tales. He has read the account of till he is spoken to. Before he has finished, Alexander, not that he has any idea who the two neighbors of the culprit turn round Alexander was, but he knows the book by and enforce the inspector's remarks by de- heart, and it is tolerably hurd Persian. He siring Ramlall to hold his tongue. "Why has read no less than six complete letterdoes he interrupt when the sahib is speak-writers; and if the inspector will only listen, ing?" Inspector turns round to the fresh he will recite fourteen couplets composed by interruptors, and upbraids them,-"Yes, himself, in which the inspector's honored

name is introduced in fourteen different la finished scholar. The two are class modes, and associated with fourteen differ-fellows, but each reads what he pleases withent compliments, each one more elaborate out reference to the other. The inspector than the other. The permission is given, impresses on the teacher the folly of this: the youth recites; both he and the teacher" I told you to make classes." feel persuaded that the limit of education Teacher.-"And they are made, thanks is reached.. to your good fortune."

Far too little, however, for the small Hindu, Chùm lall, who sits next him, son of" the grain-seller, who performs in five seconds an amount of mental arithmetic which the inspector feels at once was not included in curriculum which he himself travelled through at Trinity College, Cambridge; and the same bright-eyed little boy has every river, town, and mountain of Europe and Asia at his finger's ends, but at the same time cannot for the life of him be induced to acknowledge that there can be any east side to a map save that which for the time being lies in the direction of the rising sun.

But Chùm lall is by the side of Safdar áli,

Inspector.- "Yes; and you, again, must | B C of science, and that for these appointteach, not what you please, but what I tell ments men of high standing and great atyou.'

Teacher (stroking his beard doubtfully). "Your good fortune is great, and whatever you order, it is the privilege of this slave to perform."

Inspector (rising to the Anglo-Saxon ne plus ulira).—"And if at my next visit these orders are not obeyed, I shall reduce your salary."

Teacher (with manifest earnestness). "On my head, be it!"

tainments are selected?"

but

"Indeed, petitioner did know this; the rumor of his Excellency's generosity was so widely.spread, that he had been tempted to ask. If the deputy-inspectorship cannot be had, perhaps petitioner may be bold to apply for the place of personal attendant to the said deputy-inspector, on a salary of £5 a-year, which place he understands is also vacant. It is all the same to petitioner, who is a very poor boy and wishes to fill his belly."

the real request; the principle is that wellknown one which induces the Oxford undergraduate, fearful of a pluck, to go up for a first. Moreover every native conscientiously believes himself as well qualified as his neighbor for every post. And he is wonderfully in the right in so thinking.

The inspector then rises to depart. Fifty little boys rush up to him, and scream that The inspector mildly admonishes petitioner he has not yet heard them read any thing. to be a good lad and learn his lessons. The The officer, thus appealed to, stops, laughs, first petition was not meant to be impudent. pats the head of the nearest urchin, and It was a kind of understood introduction to tells them in the lump to read away. Down they go on their little beam-ends, nod their little heads, wag their little stomachs, and recite in that shrill, melancholy monotone which has been inseparably associated with deep learning in this place for years and centuries, long before Bell and Lancaster had taught the English concoct schemes of national education. The inspector is an Anglo-Saxon in essentials, and insists on the utile, as he understands it; but he is too sensible a man, we hope, not to allow the little lads the dulce, as they understand it— not to bow his head to a harmless national tradition.

With a final salaam from all the boys, the inspector departs. He comes again in six months. Safdar áli is enamored of his native language, Sobha Singh ciphers like a Christian, Ganga Ram laughs to scorn the idea of the sun going round the earth; the calling over is orderly, the classes are well defined; much remains to be done, no less than to compass all knowledge; but a great step has been taken ; the Indian village school and Eton College are different enough still in degree, but are no longer absolutely distinct in kind; Blackey is at school, and Whitey has got the teaching of him; it is the latter's fault if he fail to improve the situation.

"VINUM THEOLOGICUM."-Why was the best wine formerly made in England so called?

it was had from the clergie and religious men, [It was so named, says Holinshed, "because unto whose houses many of the laity would often send for bottles filled with the same, being sure that they would neither drinke nor be served of the worst, or such as was any waies mingled or breued by the vintner; nay, the merchant would have thought that his soul should have gone streightway to the devil, if he should have served them with other than the

best."-Description of England, vol. I. p. 167, edit. 1587.]-Notes and Queries.

PART IV.CHAPTER XIV.

any one to Caterina's assistance. What might she not say when she awoke from this fainting fit? She might be raving. He could not leave her, and yet he felt as if he were guilty for not following Sir Christopher to see what was the truth. It took but a moment to think and feel all this, but that moment seemed such a long agony to him, that he began to reproach himself for letting it pass without seeking some means of reviving Caterina. Happily the decanter of water on Sir Christopher's table was untouched. He would at least try the effect of throwing that water over her. She might revive without his needing to call any one else.

"YES, Maynard," said Sir Christopher, chatting with Mr. Gilfl in the library," it really is a remarkable thing that I never in my life laid a plan, and failed to carry it out. I lay my plans well, and I never swerve from them-that's it. A strong will is the only magic. And next to striking out one's plans, the pleasantest thing in the world is to see them well accomplished. This year, now will be the happiest of my life, all but the year '53, when I came into possession of the Manor, and married Henrietta. The last touch is given to the old house; Anthony's marriage the thing I had nearest my heart-it settled to my satisfaction; and byMeanwhile Sir Christopher was hurrying and-by you will be buying a little wedding- at his utmost speed towards the Rookery; ring for Tina's finger. Don't shake your his face, so lately bright and confident, now head in that forlorn way;-when I make agitated by a vague dread. The deep alarmed prophecies, they generally come to pass. But bark, of Rupert, who ran by his side, had there's a quarter after twelve atriking. I struck the ear of Mr. Bates, then on his way must be riding to the High Ash to meet homeward, as something unwonted, and, basMarkham about felling some timber. My tening in the direction of the sound, he met old oaks will have to groan for this wedding, the baronet just as he was approaching the but-" entrance of the Rookery. Sir Christopher's The door burst open, and Caterina, ghast-look was enough. Mr. Bates said nothing, ly and panting, her eyes distended with ter- but hurried along by his side, while Rupert ror, rushed in, threw her arms round Sir dashed forward among the dead leaves with Christopher's neck, and gasping out-"An- his nose to the ground. They had scarcely thony . . the Rookery... dead. lost sight of him a minute, when a change in the Rookery," fell fainting on the floor. in the tone of his bark told them that he had In a moment Sir Christopher was out of found something, and in another instant he the room, and Mr. Gilfil was bending to raise was leaping back over one of the large planted Caterina in his arms. As he lifted her from mounds. They turned aside to ascend the the ground he felt something hard and heavy mound, Rupert leading them; the tumultuin her pocket. What could it be? The ous cawing of the rooks, the very rustling weight of it would be enough to hurt her as of the leaves, as their feet plunged among she lay. He carried her to the sofa, put his them, falling like an evil omen on the barohand in her pocket, and drew forth the dag- net's ear. ger.

or,

They have reached the summit of the Maynard shuddered. Did she mean to kill mound, and have begun to descend. Sir herself, then, or a horrible Christopher sees something purple down on suspicion forced itself upon him. "Dead-the path below among the yellow leaves. in the Rookery." He hated himself for the Rupert is already beside it, but Sir Christothought that prompted him to draw the dag-pher cannot move faster. A tremor has ger from its sheath. No! there was no taken hold of the firm limbs. Rupert comes trace of blood, and he was ready to kiss the back and licks the trembling hand, as if to good steel for its innocence. He thrust the say Courage!" and then is down again weapon into his own pocket; he would re-eniffling the body. Yes, it is a body store it as soon as possible to its well-known Anthony's body. There is the white hand place in the gallery. Yet why had Caterina with its diamond ring clutching the dark taken this dagger? What was it that had leaves. His eyes are half open, but do not happened in the Rookery? Was it only a heed the gleam of sunlight that darts itself delirious vision of hers? Idirectly on them from between the boughs.

He was afraid to ring-afraid to summon

Still he might only have fainted; it might

only be a fit. Sir Christopher knelt down, | nard returned with some wine. He raised unfastened the cravat, unfastened the waist- her and she drank it; but still she was coat, and laid his hand on the heart. It silent, seeming lost in the attempt to recover might be syncope; it might not it could the past, when the door opened, and Mr. not be death. No! that thought must be Warren appeared with looks that announced kept far off. terrible tidings. Mr. Gilfil, dreading lest he should tell them in Caterina's presence, hurried towards him with his finger on his lips, and drew him away into the diningroom on the opposite side of the pas

"Go, Bates, get help; we'll carry him to your cottage. Send some one to the house to tell Mr. Gilfil and Warren. Bid them send off for Doctor Hart, and break it to my lady and Miss Assher that Anthony is ill."

Mr. Bates hastened away, and the baronet was left alone kneeling beside the body. The young and supple limbs, the rounded cheeks, the delicate ripe lips, the smooth white hands, were lying cold and rigid; and the aged face was bending over them in silent anguish; the aged deep-veined hands were seeking with tremulous inquiring touches for some symptoms that life was not irrevocably gone.

Rupert was there too, waiting and watching; licking first the dead and then the living hands; then running off on Mr. Bates's track as if he would follow and hasten his return, but in a moment turning back again, unable to quit the scene of his master's sor

sage.

Caterina, revived by the stimulant, was now recovering the full consciousness of the scene in the Rookery. Anthony was lying there dead; she had left him to tell Sir Christopher; she must go and see what they were doing with him; perhaps he was not really dead-only in a trance; people did fall into trances sometimes. While Mr. Gilfil was telling Warren how it would be best to break the news to Lady Cheverel and Miss Assher, anxious himself to return to Caterina, the poor child had made her way feebly to the great entrance-door, which stood open. Her strength increased as she moved and breathed the fresh air, and with every increase of strength came increased vividness of emotion, increased yearning to be where her thought was-in the Rookery Ir is a wonderful moment, the first time with Anthony. She walked more and more we stand by one who has fainted, and wit- swiftly, and at last, gathering the artificial ness the fresh birth of consciousness spread-strength of passionate excitement, began to ing itself over the blank features, like the rising sunlight on the alpine summits that lay ghastly and dead under the leaden twilight. A slight shudder, and the frost-bound eyes recover their liquid light; for an instant they show the inward semi-consciousness of an infant's; then, with a little start, they open wider and begin to look; the present is visible, but only as a strange writing, and the interpreter Memory is not yet there.

row.

CHAPTER XV.

eyes

run.

But soon she hears the tread of heavy steps, and under the yellow shade near the wooden bridge, she sees men slowly carrying something. Now she is face to face with them. Anthony is no longer in the Rookery; they are carrying him stretched on a door, and there behind him is Sir Christopher, with the firmly-set mouth, the deathly paleness, and the concentrated expression of suffering in the eye, which mark the suppressed grief of the strong man. The sight

Mr. Gilfil felt a trembling joy as this change passed over Caterina's face. He bent over her, rubbing her chill hands, and look-of this face, on which Caterina had never ing at her with tender pity as her dark before beheld the signs of anguish, caused a opened on him wonderingly. He thought rush of new feeling which for the moment there might be some wine in the dining-submerged all the rest. She went gently up room close by. He left the room, and to him, put her little hand in his and Caterina's eyes turned towards the window walked in silence by his side. Sir Christo-towards Sir Christopher's chair. There was the link at which the chain of consciousness had snapped, and the events of the morning were beginning to recur dimly like a half-remembered dream, when May

pher could not tell her to leave him, and so she went on with that sad procession to Mr. Bates' cottage in the Mosslands, and sat there in silence, waiting and watching to know if Anthony was really dead.