comments, but had not a plausible pretext for venting his gall. Now perceiving that Hamilton was engaged with this novel, while those about him were occupied at their exercises, he imperiously demanded why he was not at his task. “The task is finished,” answered the other, without the reverential preface of, sir.--“What stupid book is that you are reading, sirrah?”--“I’m reading no stupid book, it’s all very natural.--There, sir,” said the young dog, “you will see parson Thwackum is at last found out by his master, and turned off.”--“What do you say, you scoundrel,” said Scourge. “Away, I am no scoundrel,” replied the boy, “but parson Thwackum was a scoundrel, and was treated accordingly.”--The usher considering this remark as treason, proceeded to summary punishment, and it would have fared hard with our hero, had not one of the young gentlemen, who was stronger than the usher, interfered, and sent another to the master, requesting his immediate presence. Dr. Wentbridge appeared; at once malicious and mean Scourge preferred his accusation. Wentbridge, not without a knowledge of the dispositions and character of his deputy, and who of late had discovered his acrimony against William, soon found out the real merits of the case: but not desirous of lowering, in the eyes of the scholars, a teacher whom he found extremely successful, he dismissed his nephew with a slight rebuke, but sent for him into the parlour, and knowing he could depend upon his veracity, though not on his temper, desired him ingenuously to recount the whole circumstances. These Hamilton very plainly and fully explained. He confessed that, enraged at the usher’s severity, he had compared him to parson Thwackum, “though, sir, I must confess, when I saw him entering a complaint to you, and trying to simper and smile while he is really so rancorous, I thought of another part.”--“What is that, sir?” said the doctor, pretending to speak angrily: “Why, sir,” said William, who penetrated into his uncle’s real sentiments, “that part in which Mr. Blifil, trying to do mischief, has one of those grinning sneers, with which the devil marks his best beloved.”--Wentbridge could hardly avoid smiling at an application, which he could not help thinking most forcibly apposite, but constraining his countenance, most severely rebuked his nephew for speaking so disrespectfully of his teacher. He did not, however, fail privately to expostulate seriously with the tutor on his harshness, and charged him to abstain from it in future. The usher, who had a better place than he could easily get anywhere else, was less violent thereafter, and though, perhaps, he hated the boy more, flogged him much less. William’s time now passed very pleasantly, and he proceeded in his studies, making rapid proficiency. His father and mother regularly corresponded with our young hero, and derived high gratification from his letters.