Thus, whatever his real powers of mind, and however able to prove them when neccessity called for it, it required time and goading to screw his courage to the proper point; and though panting to rise to a level with those above him in rank or reputation, he was always, when at first thrown with them, overawed, and unable to use the opportunities he had sought, from the very mauvaise honte that every booby felt.

Though ambitious, and, when spurred, capable of energy, young Sterling's too sensitive consciousness of inferiority, where he felt himself inferior, whatever the point of comparison, disabled him; and on those occasions no man was so little like himself, so little what he wished to be, or what indeed he might have been. Thus, before a man of high birth, and still more if of high fashion or breeding, the remembrance of St. Swithin's Lane made him absolutely quail; and if it rained on that saint's day, and any body observed upon it, he has been known to turn pale and leave the room.

In the same manner, though a very fair scholar, the consciousness of his original Cockney school, and his inactive privacy of education, afterwards made him awkward and timid,

even to unhappiness, while surrounded by the bolder fronts, and readier discipline, of the numerous public schoolmen among whom he had entered.

It is strange how long he laboured under this disadvantage of character. At college it almost weighed him down; and even afterwards, in the world, it never wholly quitted him : for his taste and disposition were decided, and he carefully avoided all acquaintance with persons inferior, or even equal, to himself, from a fastidiousness that made him any thing but happy.

Yet his consciousness of his half-breeding, and the newness and homely manners of his family, discomfited his efforts, and rebuked his genius, whenever he found himself thrown with those he most affected, and before whom he most wished to shine.

Hence, a sort of jealousy and uneasiness, which, in his most prosperous moments in afterlife, often mixed bitter alloy with what appeared, perhaps, to the world a career of happiness and

success.

CHAPTER III.

A UNIVERSITY MAGNATE.

"I a am one that would rather go with Sir Priest than Sir Knight."-SHAKSPEARE.-Twelfth Night.

SOME days after his rencontre with the Principal, our tyro felt a little alarmed on receiving a message from that great person, through his butler, an exceeding grave and stiff gentleman, that his master desired to see him without delay; and when he was about to sally forth in his cap alone, his flutter was not diminished at being told by the same important person, that no one, not even tutors, ever waited upon the Principal except in full costume of gown, cap, and band.

But, before we proceed farther, it may not be amiss to give some little account of this great University magnate, who had thus, by his message, thrown our youth into such a trepidation.

The Rev. Doctor Gaston, then, was one of the best scholars of the university. He was, in

deed, greatly distinguished; and for that, as well as his private good qualities, greatly respected, notwithstanding some weaknesses, inseparable from our nature. But these, being not of a mischievous sort, did him little harm, when compared with his real merits. His weakness was a sort of pomp in the display of himself, even in his kindnesses; and particularly in his knowledge of the world, the government of his college, and his penetration as to the characters of the young men who had been bred under him.

A man of no birth, the greatness of Dr. Gaston began at Eton, where, as a scholar, he was much distinguished, and where, as at Oxford afterwards, he laid the foundation of an incalculable prejudice in favour of public education and literary eminence, over all other educations and eminences in life. An aristocrat as to these of the first order, though he honoured nobility, and did not despise wealth, he thought the laurels and high academical situations he had acquired (to say nothing of its comforts) the proudest place which a man could fill. It brought him, in his own mind, to a level with all but his sovereign, and raised him infinitely above the greatest riches, particularly commer

tial riches of which he did not pretend to conceal his contempt.

Men of family, indeed, and high political consequence, obtained from him a marked at. tention; partly from his general aristocratic feelings; not a little, from the honour he did himself in honouring them.

He was, therefore, proud to see his college well filled by promising young men; proud of directing their studies; proud of influencing their choice of friends; and exceedingly proud of pointing out the lines of demarcation which they ought to draw in their intercouse with one another.

But though in this he not a little favoured that tendency to what is called exclusiveness, which is so much seen in our national character, his principal object in every rank was to inculcate integrity and honour, and promote knowledge; and it must be owned that, wherever he saw these flourish, he gave them a very fostering care, whatever the station; where they failed, whatever they were, he treated the parties with contemptuous neglect.

Hence, where his opinion was favourable, and his prejudices not revolted, no one knew better how to "pour the fresh instruction o'er the