FRANK FAIRLEGH; OR, OLD COMPANIONS IN NEW SCENES. TO THE READER. READER! Mysterious being, whose name is Legion, (for who is there that peruseth not the pages of Sharpe?) thou that art variform as the fabled Proteus, and many minded, as the units of which thou art composed are numerous, and dost yet possess a congregate opinion, and general voice, which is all-powerful! Stranger, to whom are confided thoughts and feelings, of which not only my most chosen friends are ignorant, but which I have scarcely dared definitely to acknowledge to my own heart!—once more am I about to renew my singular intercourse with thee. So. Reader, hast thou forgotten" Frank Fairlegh?" Are the "Scenes from the Life of a Private Pupil," completely banished from thy memory? Surely it is not It cannot be that the pleasant friendship existing between us is to terminate thus abruptly. Rather will I believe that we meet again as old friends should do, with a hearty shake of the hand, and a feeling of mutual pleasure. "Why, Frank, you have become a man since we last parted." Even so, dear reader, and many strange events have occurred in the interval; events which, for me, have possessed a peculiar interest; whether they are likely to inspire you with aught of the same feeling, you will be able to judge when you have perused the following pages. CHAP. I. INTRODUCTORY. once more entirely to change my prospects in life. It came from Messrs. Coutts, the bankers, and stated that they were commissioned to pay me the sum of 4007. per annum, in quarterly payments, for the purpose of defraying my expenses at college; the only stipulations being, that the money should be used for the purpose and that I made no inquiries, direct or indirect, as to specified, that I did not contract any debts whatsoever, the source from which the sum proceeded. In the event of my complying with these conditions, the same allowance was to be continued to me till I should have taken my degree. The immediate consequence of this most unexpected communication was, our devoting the greater part of a morning to vain speculations as to the possible source from which this liberal offer might have proceeded. After guessing every one we could think of, likely or unlikely, we ended, as is usual in such cases, by becoming more puzzled, if possible, than when we began. The only person with whom I was acquainted, possessing both the will and the power to do such a thing, was manner, tried to persuade my mother to allow me to Sir John Oaklands; but he had already, in the kindest accompany Harry to Trinity College, Cambridge, begging to be permitted to defray the expenses of my so doing himself; an offer which she (not choosing to place herself under so heavy an obligation to a comparative stranger) had, with many expressions of gratitude, declined. After consulting with our friend, Mr. Dalton, it was decided that I should signify to Messrs. Coutts thy readiness to comply with the required conditions, begging them to convey my best thanks to my mysterious benefactor, and to inform him, that it was my intention (subject to his approval) to enter my name at Trinity, without loss of time. In answer to this, I received the following laconic epistle :- "Messrs. Coutts beg to inform Mr. Frank Fairlegh, that, in reply to his favour of the 21st ult., they are desired to state, that the sum of 400l. per annum will be placed at his disposal, whenever he applies for it." Towards the expiration of this period, Mr. Dalton saw fit to take unto himself a wife, a circumstance which induced my mother to accept the offer of a cottage belonging to Sir John Oaklands, which was suited to her limited means. It was situated within the park-gates, about a mile from Heathfield Hall, and, though small, was well built, and exceedingly pretty. FOR Some months after my father's death, I continued to live at the rectory; Mr. Dalton, the new incumbent, I now resumed my studies under the superintendence who had been his curate, and was unmarried, kindly of Mr. Dalton, who had taken a good degree at Camallowing my mother to remain there till her plans for bridge; and, alike delighted at my escape from the the future should be so far arranged, as to enable her to counting-house, and anxious to do credit to my benedetermine in what part of the country it would be ad factor's liberality, I determined to make the best use of visable for her to reside. It had been my father's wish my time, and worked con amore. In this manner, the and intention, when I should have attained a fit age, to next year and a half passed away without any thing send me to one of the universities: a wish my mother worthy of remark occurring. I was happy to perceive a was most anxious to carry into effect. In order to ac-gradual improvement taking place in my mother's complish this with her reduced means, it would have health and spirits, while Fanny was developing into a been necessary for her, not only to have practised the very pretty and agreeable girl. strictest economy, but also, in great measure, to have sacrificed my sister's education, as she would have been utterly unable to afford her the advantage of masters. To this, of course, I would not consent; after much discussion, therefore, the idea of college was reluctantly given up, and, as a last resource, my mother applied to an uncle of hers, engaged in the West India trade, begging him to endeavour to procure for me a clerkship in some mercantile establishment. She received a very kind reply, saying that, although he considered me too young at present to be chained to a desk, he should advise me to apply myself diligently to the study of French and book-keeping; and ending by offering me a situation in his own counting-house, when I should be eighteen. As my only alternative lay between accepting this offer, (however little suited to my taste,) or remaining a burden upon my mother, it may easily be imagined that I lost no time in signifying my desire to avail myself of his kindness; and, ere a couple of months had elapsed, I had plunged deeply into the mysteries of book-keeping, and could jabber French with tolerable fluency. I was still working away at "Double Entry," and other horrors of a like nature, when one morning I received a large business-like letter, in an unknown hand, the contents of which astonished me not a little, as well they might; for they proved to be of a nature This was an arrangement of which I highly approved, as it enabled me to renew my intercourse with Harry, who, having left Dr. Mildman's, was spending a few months at home with his father, previous to his matriculation at Trinity. I found him but little altered in any respect, save that he had become more manly looking. For the rest, he was just as good-tempered, kind-hearted, and, alas! indolent, as ever. He informed me, that Lawless also was going to Cambridge, and that Coleman, when he learned what a party of us there would be, had been most anxious to accompany us; but his father, unfortunately, did not approve, and he was now articled to a solicitor, with a view to his succeeding eventually to his father's practice. Time rolled on, and another three months beheld us duly installed in our rooms at Trinity, and dividing our time between reading (more or less, in accordance with our various idiosyncrasies,) boating on the Cam, billiard-playing at Chesterton, et hoc genus omne. Of my college life I shall say but little, a piece of forbearance for which I consider myself entitled to the everlasting gratitude of my readers, who, if they have not had their curiosity on that subject more than satisfied by the interminable narrations of "Peter Priggins," and his host of imitators, must indeed be insatiable. Suffice it then to say, that, having from the first determined, if possible, to obtain a good degree, I made a resolute stand against the advances of Lawless (who, in consequence of his father's having, for some reason best known to himself and the premier, received a peerage, had now become an "honourable,") and the "rowing set," amongst whom, by a sort of freemasonry of kindred souls, he had become enrolled immediately on his arrival. After several fruitless attempts to shake my determination, they pronounced me an incorrigible 'sap," and, leaving me to my own devices, proceeded to try their powers upon Oaklands. They met with but little success in this quarter, however; not that with him they had any indomitable love of study to contend with, but that "all that sort of thing was too much trouble; he really didn't believe there was a single fellow among the whole lot who had the slightest appreeiation of the dolce far niente." When, however, they found out that upon an emergency Harry could excel them all, whatever might be the nature of the feat to be performed, and that I could cross a country, pull an oar, or handle a bat, with the best of them, they set us down as a pair of eccentric geniuses, and as such admitted us to a kind of honorary membership in their worshipful society; and thus, 'twixt work and play, the first two years of my residence at Cambridge passed happily enough. CHAP. II. CATCHING A SHRIMP. "A MIGHTY stupid chapter that last!" "True for you,' reader; but how was it to be avoided? It was necessary to give you that short summary of my proeeedings, the better to enable you to understand all that is to follow; and so, don't you see "—"Yes, that will do. Above all things, Master Frank, avoid being prosy; it is the worst fault an author can fall into." Reader, you're very cross." It was towards the close of the long vacation, that, one morning, as I was sitting at breakfast with my mother and sister, a note was brought to me. On opening it, it proved to be from Coleman, whose father had lately taken a country house near Hillingford, a small town about fifteen miles from Heathfield, where he was now about to give a grand ball to all the neighbourhood by way of house-warming. At this ball Freddy (with whom I had kept up a constant correspondence, though we had never met since I left Dr. Mildman's,) was most anxious I should be present, and his letter was really a master-piece of persuasion; not only should I meet all the beauty and fashion of the county, but he had for some days past employed himself in paving the way for me with several of the most desirable young ladies of his acquaintance, who were now, as he assured me, actually pining to be introduced to me. Moreover, the Honourable George Lawless had promised to be there; so we were safe for fun of some sort, Lawless's tastes and habits being about as congenial to the atmosphere of a ball-room, as those of a bull to the interior of a china-shop. These manifold temptations, together with the desire of again meeting Freddy himself, proved irresistible, and I decided to go. Oaklands, who had received a similar invitation, was unluckily not able to accept it, as his father had fixed a shooting-party for that day, at which, and at the dinner which was to follow, Harry's presence was indispensable. It was in the afternoon of a glorious September day that I set off on horseback for Hillingford. I had accompanied the sportsmen in the morning, and had walked just enough to excite without fatiguing myself; " and now the elastic motion of the horse (a powerful hunter of Sir John's),-the influence of the fair scene around me, as I cantered over the smooth turf of Heathfield-park, and along the green lanes beyond it,— the prospect of seeing again an old companion of my boyhood's days,-all contributed to produce in me an exhilaration of spirits which seemed to raise me above the "Kleinigkeiten," the littlenesses (as the Germans so well express it) of this world, and to exalt me to some higher and nobler sphere. Out of this day-dream I was at length aroused by the clatter of horses' feet, and the rattle of wheels in the lane behind me, while a man's voice, in tones not of the most gentle description, accosted me as follows:-" Now then, sir, if you've got a license to take up the whole road, I'll just trouble you to show it!" With a touch of the spur I caused my horse to bound on one side, and, as I did so, I turned to look at the speaker. Perched high in mid-air, upon some mysterious species of dog-cart, bearing a striking resemblance to the box of a mail-coach, which had contrived, by some private theory of developement of its own, to dispense with its body, while it had enlarged its wheels to an almost incredible circumference; perched on the top of this remarkable machine, and enveloped in a white great coat, undermined in every direction by strange and unexpected pockets, was none other than the Honourable George Lawless! The turn-out was drawn by a pair of thorough-breds, driven tandem, which were now (their irascible tempers being disturbed by the delay which my usurpation of the road had occasioned,) relieving their feelings by executing a kind of hornpipe upon their hind-legs. The equipage was completed by a tiger, so small, that beyond a vague sensation of top-boots and a livery hat, one's senses failed to realize him, "Why, Lawless!" exclaimed I; "you are determined to astonish the natives, with a vengeance: such a turn-out as that has never been seen in these parts before, I'm certain.” Frank Fairlegh, by Jove! How are you, old fellow? Is it my trap you're talking about what do you think of it? rather the thing, is'nt it, eh?" I signified my approval, and Lawless continued, "Yes, it's been very much admired, I assure you-quiet! Mare, quiet!—not a bad sort of thing to knock about in, eh ?---What are you at, fool?-Tumble out, Shrimp, and hit Spiteful a lick on the nose-he's eating the mare's tail. Spicey tiger, Shrimp-- did you ever hear how I picked him up?" I replied in the negative, and Lawless resumed-"I was down at Broadstairs the beginning of the longwretched place, but I went down for a boat-race with some more fellows; well, of course, because we wanted it to be fine, the weather turned sulky, and the boat-race had to be put off; so, to prevent ourselves from going melancholy inad, we hired a drag, and managed to get together a team, such as it was. The first day we went out they elected me waggoner, and a nice job I had of it; three of the horses had never been in harness before, and the fourth was a bolter. It was pretty near half an hour before we could get them to start; and, when they were off, I had enough to do to keep their heads out of the shop windows. However, as soon as they began to get warm to their work, things improved, and we rattled along merrily. We were spinning away at about twelve miles an hour, when, just as we were getting clear of the town, we came suddenly upon a covey of juvenile blackguards, who were manufacturing dirt pies right in the centre of the road. As soon as I saw them, I sung out to them to clear the course, but before they had time to cut away, we were slap into the middle of them. Well, I thought it was going to be a regular case of Herod, and that there would be at least half-a-dozen of them spifflicated, but they all managed to save their bacon except Shrimp,-one of the wheels went over him, and broke him somewhere. Where was it, Shrimp?" Left arm, Sir, if you please," replied Shrimp, in a shrill treble. an make pretty speeches to one's face without laughing at one Mr. Coleman, who was a short, stout, red-faced old gentleman, with a bald head, and a somewhat pompous manner, came forward and welcomed me warmly, saying all sorts of complimentary things to me, in extremely high-flown and grandiloquent language; and referring to my having saved his son's life, in doing which, however, he quite won my heart, by the evident pride and affection with which he spoke of Freddy. The lady of the house was a little, round, merry-looking woman, chiefly remarkable (as I soon discovered) for a peculiar mental obliquity, leading her always to think of the wrong thing at the wrong time, whereby she was perpetually becoming involved in grievous colloquial entanglements, and meeting with innumerable small personal accidents, at which no one laughed so heartily as herself. "Aye, so it was," continued Lawless. "As soon as I could contrive to pull up, I sent the groom back, with orders to find a doctor, get the boy repaired, and tell them to come to me at the hotel in the morning, and I'd pay for all damages. Accordingly, while I was eating my breakfast next morning, an amphibious old female in a blue pea-jacket was shown in to me, who stated she was Shrimp's mother. First, she was extremely lacrymose, and couldn't speak a word; then she got the steam up, and began slanging me till all was blue; I was unchristianlike, hard-hearted, heathen Turk, so I was, and I'd been and spiled her sweet boy completely, so I had; such a boy as he was too, bless him, it was quite a sight to hear him say his Catechism; and as to reading his book, he'd beat the parson himself into fits at it.' Fortunately for me, she was a little touched in the wind, and when she pulled up to take breath for a fresh start, I managed to cut in. I tell you what it is, old lady,' said I, there's no need for you to put yourself into a fury about it; misfortunes will happen in the best regulated families, and it seems to me a boy more or less can make no great odds to any one--no fear of the breed becoming extinct just at present, if one may judge from appearances; however, as you seem to set a value upon this particular boy, I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll buy him of you, and then, if anything should go wrong with About half past nine that evening, some of the guests him, it will be my loss, and not yours. I'll give you 201. began to arrive, amongst the foremost of whom was for him, and that's more than he would be worth if he was Lawless, most expensively got up for the occasion, in a sound. By Jove, the old girl brightened up in a moment, stock and waistcoat, which, as Coleman observed, rewiped her eyes with the sleeve of her coat, and said-quired to be seen ere they could be believed in. As the Five pounds more, and it's a bargain.' And the end of it arrivals succeeded each other more rapidly, and the all was, the brat got well before I left the place, I paid the rooms began to fill, Lawless took me by the arm, and old woman her money, and brought Shrimp away with led me to a corner, whence, unnoticed ourselves, we me, and it hasn't turned out such a bad spec either, for could observe the whole scene. he makes a capital tiger, and now I've broken him in, I would not take twice the money for him. You'll be at old Coleman's hop to-night, I suppose; so au revoir!” Thus saying, he drew the whip lightly across the leader's back, the horses sprang forward, and in another moment he was out of sight. Half an hour's ride brought me within view of Elm Lodge, the house lately taken by Mr. Coleman, senior. As I rang at the bell, a figure leaped out of one of the front windows, and came bounding across the lawn to meet me, and in another minute my hand was seized, and my arm nearly shaken off, by Coleman. 66 Freddy, old boy!" "Frank, my dear old fellow!" were our mutual exclamations, as we once more shook hands with an energy which must have highly edified a pompous footman, whom my ring had summoned. After the first excitement of our meeting had a little subsided, we found time to examine each other more minutely, and note the changes a couple of years had wrought in us. Coleman was the first to speak. Why, Frank, how you are altered!" "If you were but decently civil, you would say 'improved instead of 'altered,'" replied I," but you'll never learn manners." "Oh, if you want compliments, I'll soon get up a few, but it strikes me they are not required. A man with such a face and figure as yours soon finds out that he is a deucedly good-looking fellow. Why, how high do you stand?" "About six feet without my boots," replied I, laughing at Coleman, who kept turning me round, and examining me from top to toe, as if I had been some newlydiscovered animal. 66 Well, you are a screamer, and no mistake,"exclaimed he at length. "Be merciful towards the young ladies to-night, or the floor will be so cumbered with the heaps of slain, that we shall have no room to dance." "Never fear," rejoined I, "the female breast is not so susceptible as you imagine, and I'll back your bright eyes and merry smile to do more execution than my long legs and broad shoulders any day." "No soft sawder, Master Frank, if you please; it's an article for which I've a particular distaste; people never "This will be a very full meet, Fairlegh," he began, "I'm getting confoundedly nervous, I can tell you; I'm not used to this sort of affair, you know; I used always to shirk everything of the kind, but my Mater has got it into her head, since she's become My Lady, that she must flare up and give balls, because ladies of rank always do so,' forsooth, and so she's taken me in hand, to try and polish me up into something like a man of fashion,' as she calls those confounded puppies one sees lounging about drawing-rooms. Well, as I didn't like to rile the old woman by refusing to do what she wanted, I went to a French mounseer, to teach me my paces; I've been in training above a month, so I thought I'd come here, just as a sort of trial to see how I could go the pace." "This is your débût, in fact," returned I. 66 My how much?" was the reply.-" Oh, I sec, starting for the maiden stakes, for untried horses only-that sort of thing-ch? Yes, it's the first time I've been regularly entered; I hope I sha'n't bolt off the course; I feel uncommon shy at starting, I can assure you." "Oh, you'll do very well when you're once off; your partner will tell you if you are going to make any mistake," replied I. 66 My partner; eh? You mean one of those whitemuslined young ladies, who is to run in double-harness with me, I suppose?-that's another sell ;-I shall be expected to talk to her, and I never know what to say to women; if one don't pay 'em compliments, and do a bit of the sentimental, they set you down as a brute directly. What an ass I was to come here! I wish it was bed-time! "Nonsense, man; never be afraid!" exclaimed Freddy, who had just joined us; "I'll pick you out a partner who's used to the thing, and will do all the talking herself, and be glad of the opportunity of giving her tongue a little exercise; and here comes the very girl, of all others,-Di Clapperton." Then turning towards a tall showy-looking girl, who had just arrived, he addressed her with-"Delighted to see you, Miss Clapperton; a ball-room never appears to me properly arranged till it is graced by your presence: here's my friend, the Hon. George Lawless, dying to be introduced to you." "Pleasure-ar-dancing-with you, eh?" muttered] the Hon. George, giving a little quick nod between each word, and getting very red in the face. The young lady smiled a gracious assent, and saying, "I think they are forming a quadrille,-shall we take our places?"-marched him off in triumph. 66 Frank, are you provided, or can I do anything for you?" inquired Coleman. "Who is that interesting looking girl, with dark hair?" asked I, in return. "What, the one with the white camelia in her head, leaning on the arm of that old fellow with a cast-iron face? What a splendid pair of eyes she has got!--I'll find out her name, and get you introduced," replied Coleman, disappearing in the crowd. In a minute or two he returned, and informed me the young lady's name was Saville. "You've not made such a bad hit either," continued he; "they tell me she's to be a great heiress, and old Iron-sides, there, is her guardian. They say, he keeps her shut up so close that nobody can see her; he would hardly let her come to-night, only he's under some business obligations to my governor, and he persuaded him to bring her, in order to give me a chance, I suppose." "What an expression of sadness there is in those deep blue eyes of her's; I am afraid she is not happy, poor thing!" said I, half thinking aloud. "Why, you're getting quite romantic about it!" returned Coleman; "for my part, I think she looks rather jolly than otherwise;-see how she is laughing with my cousin Lucy; by Jove, how her face lights up when she smiles-she's decidedly pretty. Well, will you be introduced?-they are going to waltz." I signified my assent, and Coleman set off in search of his father, to perform the ceremony, not having courage enough himself to face "old Stiff-back," as he irrcverently termed the young lady's guardian. "I am sorry to refuse your young friend, Mr. Coleman," was the reply to my introduction; "but Miss Saville never waltzes." Come, don't be crabbed, Vernon; young people ought to enjoy themselves; recollect, we were young ourselves once!" "If old Time had dealt as leniently by me, as he seems to have done by you, Coleman, I should consider myself young yet," replied Mr. Vernon; "I believe I have spoken my ward's wishes upon this point; but, if it would be more satisfactory to your friend to hear her decision from her own lips, I can have no objection.Clara, my dear, this gentleman, Mr. Fairlegh, does you the honour of wishing to waltz with you." Thus accosted, Miss Saville raised her eyes to my face for a moment, and instantly casting them down again, coloured slightly, as she replied "If Mr. Fairlegh will excuse me, I had rather not waltz." I could, of course, only bow in acquiescence, and was turning away, when old Mr. Coleman stopped me with "There, wait a minute, Mr. Fairlegh; my little niece, Lucy Markham, will be only too glad to console you for your disappointment; she's never so happy as when she's waltzing.” "If you are impertinent, uncle, I'll make you waltz with me till you're quite tired, by way of punishment!" replied his niece, as she accepted my proffered arin. During a pause in the waltz, I referred to the refusal just received, and asked my partner (a lively little brunette, with very white teeth, and a bewitching smile) whether her friend Miss Saville were not somewhat of a prude? “Poor dear Clara-a prude?-oh no!" was the reply. "You mean because she would not waltz, I suppose?" I bowed my head in assent, and she continued: "I gave you credit for more penetration, Mr. Fairlegh; did you not see it was all that horrible Mr. Vernon, her guardian?he chose her not to waltz; and she is too much afraid of him to dare to do anything he does not approve he would hardly let her come here to-night, only uncle Coleman worried him into it." "She is exceedingly pretty," remarked I; "there is something peculiar in the expression of those beautiful blue eyes, which particularly pleases me; an earnest trustful look, which-you will laugh at what I am going to say which I have never seen before, except in the eyes of a dog!" "Oh! I know so well what you mean," replied my partner, "I have observed it often, but I never should have known how to express it. What a good idea!" "May I ask whether you are very intimate with her? Is she an old friend of your's?" "No, I never saw her till my uncle took this house; but Mr. Vernon sometimes brings her with him when he drives over on business, and she comes and sits with me, while they are puzzling over their parchments. I like her so much, she seems as agreeable, and good, as she is pretty." "How is it," asked I, "that my friend Freddy did not know her by sight, even?-he had to inquire her name this evening.' "Why, Frederick is generally obliged to be in town, you know; and I have observed that, when he is down here, Mr. Vernon never brings her with him." 66 "He had better make a nun of her at once," said I. Perhaps she won't be a nun!" said, or rather sang Lucy. And here we joined the waltzers again, and the conversation ended. THE PARIA. IT is not our intention in this article to discourse unfortunate condition every one is acquainted: we on the impure castes of the Hindoos, with whose have merely adopted the term "Paria," as descriptive of a class of persons common in society, who, because over-looked or despised by others, may fitly receive from us a few words of sympathy. We find it exceedingly difficult to express our meaning by a definition. We refer to those individuals, frequently met with, who, suffering under some disgrace of nature or fortune, seem to stand isolated in the midst of their fellows, to have no independent place in society, but to live only as accessaries to the happiness of others. But what we mean will probably become more apparent in the sequel. Some naturalists, with a devotion to science which calls for the admiration of all, have spent weeks, months, and even years, in watching the habits of certain animals, of whom it happens that the most insignificant are just those whose natural history it is the most difficult to fix. So is it with the Paria. The difficulty of gaining explicit information as to the habits of this part of our race, can only be known by the very few who have interested themselves in obtaining it. For our own part, we confess that a peculiar turn of mind has induced us, more than others, to notice individuals of this class. With the great, the rich, and the prosperous, we have only a moderate degree of sympathy. We delight to be conducted through the rooms of some princely mansion, and deep is the gratification which our taste derives from the works of art which they contain; but our heart is far more strongly touched, when in some humble cottage we discover a do mestic group gathered round their tea-table, the parents sitting composedly at each end, and the children mounted on high chairs at their side. We read, without any great emotion, the description |