CHAPTER IV.

On a sick bed---Fever, firmness, and folly---“ Bound 'prentice to a waterman"---I take my first lesson in love, and give my first lesson in Latin---The love lesson makes an impression on my auricular organ-Verily, none are so deaf as those who won't hear.

WHEN I recovered my senses, I found myself in bed, and Captain Turnbull sitting by my side. I had been removed to his house when the lighter had arrived at the wharf. Captain Turnbull was then talking with Mr. Tomkins, the former head clerk, now in charge. Old Tom came on shore and stated the condition I was

in, and Mr. Tomkins having no spare bed in his

VOL. II.

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nouse, Captain Turnbull immediately ordered me to be taken to his residence, and sent for medical advice. During the time I had remained in this state, old Tom had informed Captain Turnbull, the Domine, and Mr. Tomkins, of the circumstances which had occurred, and how much I had been misrepresented to Mr. Drummond; and, not saying a word about the affair of Wimbledon Common, or my subsequent intemperance, had given it as his opinion that illtreatment had produced the fever. In this, I believe, he was nearly correct, although my disease might certainly have been aggravated and hastened by those two unmentioned causes. They all of them took my part, and Mr. Turnbull went to London to state my condition to Mr. Drummond, and also to remonstrate at his injustice. Circumstances had since occurred which induced Mr. Drummond to lend a ready ear to my justification, but the message

I had sent was still an obstacle. This, however, was partly removed by the equivocating testimony of the young clerk, when he was interrogated by Captain Turnbull and Mr. Drummond; and wholly so by the evidence of young and old Tom, who, although in the cabin, had overheard the whole of the conversation; and Mr. Drummond desired Captain Turnbull to inform me, as soon as I recovered, that all was forgotten and forgiven. It might have been on his part, but not on mine; and when Captain Turnbull told me so, with the view of raising my spirits, I shook my head as I lay on the pillow. As the reader will have observed, the feeling roused in me by the ill-usage I had received was a vindictive one-one that must have been deeply implanted in my heart, although, till then, it had never been roused into action, and now, once roused, was not to be suppressed. That it was based on pride was

evident, and with it my pride was raised in proportion. To the intimation of Captain Turnbull, I therefore gave a decided dissent. "No, sir, I cannot return to Mr. Drummond: that he was kind to me, and that I owe much to his kindness, I readily admit; and now that he has acknowledged his error in supposing me capable of such ingratitude, I heartily forgive him; but I cannot and will not receive any more favours from him. I cannot put myself in a situation to be again mortified as I have been. I feel I should no longer have the same pleasure in doing my duty as I once had, and I never could live under the same roof with those who at present serve him. Tell him all this, and pray tell little Sarah how grateful I feel to her for all her kindness to me, and that I shall always think of her with regret, at being obliged to leave her." And at the remembrance of little Sarah, I burst into tears, and sobbed

on my pillow. Captain Turnbull, whether he rightly estimated my character, or felt convinced that I had made up my mind, did not renew the subject.

"Well, Jacob," replied he, "we'll not talk

of that

any more. I'll give your messages just in your own words. Now, take your draught, and try to get a little sleep."

I complied with this request, and nothing but weakness now remaining, I rapidly regained my strength, and with my strength, my feelings of resentment increased in proportion. Nothing but the very weak state that I was in when Captain Turnbull spoke to me, would have softened me down to give the kind message that I did; but my vindictive mind was subdued by disease, and better feelings predominated, The only effect this had was to increase my animosity against the other parties who were the cause of my ill treatment, and I vowed that