like a man of resolve,—the anticipation is often, if not always, more painful than the reality. Thou knowest, Jacob, how often I have allowed a boy to remain unbuttoned in the centre of the room for an hour previous to the application of the birch-and it was with the consideration that the impression would be greater upon his mind than even upon his nether parts. Of all the feelings in the human breast, that of suspense is " "Worse than hanging," interrupted young Tom. "Even so, boy, [cluck, cluck,] an apt comparison, seeing that in suspense you are hanging, as it were, in the very region of doubt, without being able to obtain a footing even upon conjecture. Nay, we may further add another simile, although not so well borne out, which is, that the agony of suspense doth stop the breath of a man for the time, as hanging doth stop it altogether, so that it may be truly said, that suspense is put an end to by suspending." [Cluck, cluck.] "And now that you've got rid of all that, master, suppose you fill up your pipe," observed old Tom. "And I will fill up your tumbler, sir,” said Mary; "for you must be dry with talking such hard words." The Domine this time made no objection, and again enveloped Mary and himself in a cloud of smoke, through which his nose loomed like an Indiaman in a channel fog. BIBLIO CHAPTER IX. The Domine's bosom grows too warm; so the party and the frost break up-I go with the stream and against it; make money both ways-Coolness between Mary and me-) -No chance of a Thames' edition of Abelard and Eloise-Love, learning, and Latin all lost in a fit of the sulks. "I SAY, master Stapleton, suppose we were to knock out a half port," observed old Tom, after a silence of two minutes; "for the old gentleman blows a devil of a cloud: that is, if no one has an objection." Stapleton gave a nod of assent, and I rose and put the upper window down a few inches. "Aye, that's right, Jacob; now we shall see what Miss Mary and he are about. You've been enjoying the lady all to yourself, master," continued Tom, addressing the Domine. 66 Verily and truly," replied the Domine, even as a second Jupiter." "Never heard of him." "I presume not; still, Jacob will tell thee that the history is to be found in Ovid's Metamorphoses." "Never heard of the country, master." 66 Nay, friend Dux, it is a book, not a country, in which thou mayst read how Jupiter at first descended unto Semele in a cloud." "And pray, where did he come from, master ?" "He came from heaven." "The devil he did. Well, if ever I gets there, I mean to stay." "It was love, all-powerful love, which in duced him, maiden," replied the Domine, turn ing, with a smiling eye, to Mary. 66 'Bove my comprehension altogether," re plied old Tom. "Human natur," muttered Stapleton, with the pipe still between his lips. "Not the first vessels that have run foul in a fog," observed young Tom. "No, boy; but generally there ar'n't much love between them at those times. But, come, now that we can breathe again, suppose I give What shall it be, young woman, you a song. a sea ditty, or something spooney?” "O! something about love, if you've no objection, sir," said Mary, appealing to the Domine. "Nay, it pleaseth me, maiden, and I am of thy mind. Friend Dux, let it be Anacreontic." "What the devil's that?" cried old Tom, |