" and send it down, to convince him, that he "could do his own business without any body's "help." So saying, he went out of the room in great haste, and in less time than could be expected brought down a portion of facred exercife in hexameter verse, which the parfon candidly declared was admirably well performed for his years, adding, that although it was not without faults, there were some passages, that bespoke the dawning of genius-" I am obliged " to you, Sir," said Gemellus, " it is more than " I deserve, and I beg your pardon for the im" pertinence I have been guilty of."-The tears started in his eyes as he faid this, and he departed without any answer from his father.

He had no fooner left the room than he perçeived Geminus bad followed him, and, being piqued with his late treatment, turned round and with a disdainful look faid-" Brother Ge" minus, you ought to be ashamed of yourself; " if you was at Westminster, there is not a boy "in the school would acknowledge you after so

fcandalous a behaviour." -" I care neither for "you nor your school," answered the domeftic youth, "it is you and not I should be ashamed " of fuch reprobate manners, and I shall report you to my father."-" Do so," replied Gemellus, " and take that with you into the bar" gain." " gain." This was immediately seconded with a found flap on the face with his open hand, which however drew the blood in a stream from his nostrils, and he ran screaming to Euphorion, who came out upon the alarm with all the fpeed he could muster. Gemellus stood his ground, and after a severe caning was ordered to afk pardon of his brother: This he peremptorily refused to do, alledging that he had been punished already, and to be beaten and beg pardon too was more than he would submit to. No menaces being able to bring this refractory spirit to fubmiffion, he was sent off to school penniless, and a letter was written to the master, fetting forth his offence, and in strong terms censuring his want of difcipline for not correcting so stubborn a temper and so idle a disposition.

When he returned to school the master sent for him to his house, and questioned him upon the matter of complaint in his father's letter, observing that the charge being for offences out of school he did not think it right to call him publicly to account; but as he believed him to be a boy of honour, he expected to hear the whole truth fairly related: This drew forth the whole narrative, and Gemellus was dismissed with a gentle admonition, that could hardly be construed into a rebuke.

When

L

!

1

When the next holidays were in approach, Gemellus received the following letter from his brother.

"BROTHER GEMELLUS,

"If you have duly repented of your behaviour " to me, and will fignify your contrition, asking "pardon as becomes you for the violence you "have committed, I will intercede with my "father, and hope to obtain his permiffion for "your coming home in the enfuing holidays: "If not, you must take the consequences and " remain where you are, for on this condition "only I arr to confider myself,

"Your affectionate brother,

"GEMINUS."

To this letter Gemellus returned an anfwer

as follows.

"DEAR BROTHER,

"I am forry to find you still bear in mind a boyish quarrel fo long paft; be affured I have " entirely forgiven your behaviour to me, but I cannot recollect any thing in mine to you, "which I ought to ask your pardon for: What"ever confequences may befal me for not com"plying with your condition, I shall remain

Your affectionate brother,

"GEMELLUS."

N. LXIII.

N° LXIII.

Naturâ tu illi pater es, confiliis ego.

(TERENT.)

By nature you're his father's I by counfel.

T

(COLMAN.)

HIS letter fixed the fate of Gemellus: Re. sentments are not easily diflodged from harrow minds; Euphorion had not penetration to diftinguish between the characters of his children; he faw no meanness in the fly infidious manners of his homebred favourite, nor any fparks of generous pride in the steady inflexibility of Gemellus; he little knew the high principle of honour, which even the youngest spirits communicate to each other in the habits and man-hers of a public school. He bitterly inveighed against his neighbour the lawyer for perfuading him to fuch a fatal system of education, and whenever they met in company their converfation was engrossed with continual arguings and reproachings; for neither party receded from his point, and Gemellus's advocate was as little disposed to give him up, as his father was to excuse him. At last they came to a compromise, by which Euphorion agreed to charge his eftate VOL. III. with

with an annuity for the education and support of Gemellus, which annuity during his nonage was to be received and administered by the faid awyer, and Geminus left heir of his whole fortune, this moderate encumbrance excepted.

The difinterested and proscribed offender was now turned over to the care of the lawyer, who regularly defrayed his school expences, and never failed to visit him at those periods, when country practitioners usually refort to town. The boy, apprized of his situation, took no further pains to affuage his father's resentment, but full of refources within himself, and possessed of an active and aspiring genius, pressed forward in his business, and foon found himself at the head of the school, with the reputation of being the best scholar in it.

He had formed a close friendship, according to the custom of great schools, with a boy of his own age, the fon of a nobleman of high diftinction, in whose family Gemellus was a great favourite, and where he never failed to pass his holidays, when the school adjourned. His good. friend and guardian the lawyer faw the advantages of this early connection in their proper light, and readily confented to admit his ward of the fame college in the university, when Gemellus and his friend had compleated their school education.