"Mr. Smith is the name of the big duke's tutor, whom he has just left," answered De Roos, "after enduring such wretchedness, for more than two years, as would have about finished me, I am sure." "Nothing at all like wretchedness, upon my honour," retorted Leinster. "It is all Harry's spoiled way." "Tell us, you big duke, how you used to pass your valuable time at this said bugbear of a tutor, Mr. Smith's," said I. "Listen while I tell you then," replied Leinster. "Myself and two other lads were under his care. We rose at six and cleaned our own boots and shoes." De Roos looked on his peculiarly delicate white hand and fingers and sighed heavily. "And then," proceeded Leinster, "we took our breakfast, which consisted of thick slices of bread with a little salt butter. After that we had three large books placed before us, in which we were desired to read for five hours, taking down notes of whatever struck us most forcibly. At dinner, which consisted one day of a roast joint, the next of the same, hashed; the third, ditto, minced; our society was enlivened by the three Miss Smiths!" "What sort of animals were they?" inquired Julia, laughing. "The eldest, Miss Jemima, wore a sort of a false rump, sticking out so," and Leinster put himself into a most ludicrous attitude. To my question, whether she was pretty, he answered, that her face was a little too much like a dead horse for a perfect beauty. "Gorgons, all three of them, and the youngest turned of thirty," said De Roos, with a heavy groan. "But then," interrupted Julia, "Mr. De Roos is not going to live with Mr. Smith." "True," continued De Roos, "and, surely, there cannot be another such a vile place in the world take it all together, cleaning boots, and the Miss Smiths, and all?" "No," I answered, "you must hope the best, and recollect that merely being minus the Miss Smiths is something." "Thank God, I have done with private tutors!" said Leinster. "How do you like Oxford?" asked Julia. "Delighted with it," replied the Duke. "Apropos of Christ Church. Do you know that Brummell is cut amongst us, and who do you think sets the fashions there now?" "Yourself, perhaps?" "No, nothing is asked, but whether Harriette Wilson approves of this or that? Harriette likes white waistcoats--Harriette commends silk stockings, &c. I asked my friend, the young Marquis of Worcester, why he did not curl his straight locks. 'Harriette considers straight hair most gentleman-like.' "On my asking him if he knew Harriette, the marquis owned that he had never seen her, adding, 'I ran up three times to the Opera, on purpose; but she did not make her appearance. Will you present me to her? I shall be much indebted to you.' "'Not I, indeed, upon my honour,' was my answer, and I am the only young man at Oxford acquainted with you."