which told on the tiger. Immediately the assuredly never deplore the disappearance brute turned, and with loud roars charged of the royal tiger.

him, being again dropped into the watercourse by a shot fired within twenty yards. Once more, but more slowly, he picked himself up, when the sportsman's elephant, being badly handled, spun round, and, with a loud, worrying noise, the tiger sprang on to its back and began clawing its quarters. At length, the elephant stopping its frantic career for a moment, the captain turned round in the howdah and, seizing the opportunity, put the muzzle of his rifle to the skull of the tiger and blew it into fifty pieces with the large shell it carried. Then the elephant executed a kind of Pyrrhic dance over the prostrate form of its foe, and the maneater of the Móran was at last destroyed.

From Blackwood's Magazine. AN UNIMPORTANT PERSON.

I.

CLODTHORPE is a town of Rip Van Winkles. If one of them were to go away into a cleft of the swelling hills, and come back no more, there would be but one pipe less by the inn fire. If he returned after some twenty years, there would be but one pipe more.

Of course this is not true. The town is not very far from London, and the railway passes within four miles. But when you look down on Clodthorpe It would be easy to extract many a from some neighbouring hill, or catch a pleasant anecdote of the fauna of Bengal glimpse of it from the Thames, it seems from Captain Forsyth's pages; but a little so sleepy that it can hardly puff away its consideration is due to the readers, and, own blue smoke, so sleepy that you yawn probably, all who are fond of hunting-craft, pleasantly as you gaze, so sleepy that Sleep though their quarry need not be as formi- himself girdled and crowned with poppies dable as the royal tiger, will now find their might be sleeping there. Go into the town way to this book. Having tracked our at noon, and lo! it is a bustling place and own tiger from his birthplace in the nul a growing. It has been growing for ages to the vengeance which has appropriately with the growth of the English people. overtaken his deeds of blood, a few words When a Plantagenet wanted a bowman, he only require to be added. It will, prob- sent to Clodthorpe. Had a Tudor wanted ably, be long ere the tiger (said now to be another playwright, he might have dug up on the increase) will be extirpated from a Shakespeare hereabouts. One townshis native jungles, but it is manifestly the man of this goodly place would drink you duty of government to encourage its three of Boreham or six of Blockley extinction. In the case of an animal so through happiness into oblivion. Of late destructive to human life, to say nothing it has grown more quickly, creeping along of cattle, neither half-measures nor allow the country roads, rooting up hedges and ances on the score of its existence being pushing down elms, and so has come to conducive to cherish a manly and excit- Colthurst farm, and swallowed it. The ing sport are admissible. Of course, a meadows of deep grass, which stretch to wealthy rajah might here and there pre- the river-bank, are still country; but the serve the tiger in what the Orientals of old barn is a school under clerical control; termed a paradise, and there will be cer- the yard, once full of straw and the smell tain localities where the race may, in a of kine, has been swept and gravelled into wild state, maintain a precarious vitality, a playground; and the farmhouse, which but the country would be much more pros- stands at right angles to the barn, and perous were the wild stock utterly rooted likewise opens into the yard, is the suburout. England has not suffered in manly ban residence of William Whiteham, grovigour and daring courage since Edgar cer, whose shop in the High Street has tried to extirpate its wolves, and it has plate-glass windows, and whose daughter prospered indefinitely. When a wild ani- copies the London copy of the Paris fashmal, owing to mischievous and predatory ions. Now William Whiteham is a pruhabits, comes into collision with civiliza- dent citizen. As his new house was tion it must be swept away. We may re-roomy, and his family small, he looked gret the hard necessity, but, if man is to about for a lodger. At the same time the replenish and subdue the earth, he must likewise have dominion over every living thing that moveth upon it. The present age wastes no regrets upon the gigantic reptiles of the oolite; that brilliant future which, we trust, awaits British India will

gentle Christopher was looking about for a lodging. Thus it came to pass that Clodthorpe, which already possessed a M.P. and a fire-engine, each of the newest fashion, became the home of a student. The town was not moved from its accustomed

calm by the coming of this contemplative | sideways in a furtive manner, he placed in person. Even the grocer's household it the largest lump and smiled. They unwere but slightly ruffled. All the attention derstood each other, and there was no which the father of the family could spare need for words. When she had hold of from his cheeses was given to his duty as the reward of virtue the naughty girl vana volunteer. The daughter scarcely ished with a directness of movement looked up from her music when the young wholly unlike the previous gyrations; and man went by. The mother, who spoke presently all her small schoolfellows much of the increase of work, which she poured into the yard, good, bad, and indifthoroughly enjoyed, soon absorbed her ferent, prim, slipshod, or gaudy. Small new charge, cooked for him, washed for bits of cheap ribbon and skimp capes, sughim, mended for him, and did for him in gestive of the previous existence of much every way. It was her care to see that he larger garments, were so common as to be ate his meals and kept his health; and the scarcely worthy the observation of an inmanner of his life was the result of a com- tellectual gentleman. And yet morning promise between his tastes and her theo- after morning, the student whose ability ries. This manner of life, when it was was undoubted, gazed on that irreguwholly formed, was as follows: At half-lar procession with unflagging interest. past seven, Jemima, maid of all work When the stream of girls had been some which her mistress would resign, knocked time in motion, the green gate opened at the student's door. At eight the wider, and a young lady walked through attentive ear might hear him in his bath. the yard, and entered the schoolroom. Half an hour later he went down-stairs When she had passed, Christopher left from his little bedroom to his little his chair, and put away his pipe. He sitting-room, which was directly beneath it, and on the ground-floor. Both rooms looked into the yard. After a short pause the lady of the house bustled across the passage with a tray, and asked after his health, while she arranged the coffee and the dish of bacon on a spotless cloth. She believed in coffee, and he could not breakfast without bacon. At half-past nine he was seated by his open window, and smoking a mild pipe. Very soon an exciting incident occurred. It happened every morning, but was always the event of the day. First one of those wide green gates, which in former days let in the cows, returning heavy from pasture, was opened a little way, and a little girl slipped through. She was sent forth by a most careful mother with a little slip of something neatly bound about her shoulders, and her hair hanging in stiff curls; but when she met the student's eye, she had shaken her light locks into a tangle, held her hat by one string, and the nameless fragment by one corner. She was the naughty girl of the school; and the virtue of punctuality, which she had unexpectedly developed, had no surer foundation than a fancy for white sugar. Every morning, when she saw Christopher smoking blandly at his window, she made a face, then giggled, then went up sideways towards him, ever and anon veiling her modesty behind a grimace. He on his side was very calm and still, and spake never a word. Only, when after many pauses and contortions she had drawn near, and the little hand came pushing out

took down books and papers, and began to read. At twelve he was interrupted. The schoolgirls were turned out for ten minutes, and their favourite pastime, which had been invented by the naughty girl, was to peep round the edge of the lodger's window, until they met his eye, when they hopped off with shrieks of laughter. Such was the sport of the younger children. The elders danced stiffly in a ring, or tossed a ball, which was never caught. The naughty one abandoned herself to riot with a reckless disregard of appearances; but for the most part the children hopped or tossed with a painfully evident regard for their silk scraps and bobtails. The play of even the smallest girls is too often constrained by a premature self-respect. Such thoughts as these often passed through the mind of the profound observer of these harmless games; but nevertheless he smiled on all alike. Sometimes the schoolmistress stood in the doorway, by which a jasmine grew, and watched the children for a few minutes before she called them to work. On these occasions the student peeped at her very cautiously, lest he should drive her in. After this interruption he was apt to be restless over his book. He fingered the paper-knife, and even bit the end. He stared at the ceiling. Sometimes he rose and paced the apartment, which was perhaps twelve feet square. Seldom had one o'clock sounded from the old church-tower, ere he had pulled out a heap of papers of divers shapes and colours, and sharpened his pencil. This was the great unpub

lished tragedy: this was the student's not half a mile from the good town of secret. To the outer wold, including the Clodthorpe, and the road which leads junior partner in an ambitious firm of pub- thereto from Colthurst farm is still lined lishers, he was a graceful scholar, and an by splendid elms. If he felt that he had able philologist. He and he alone knew done something in the day the student, that he was a dramatist. He and he alone sweeping with long strokes up the stream, might view with tender eye the child of his enjoyed a profound content, which Hobbes imagination, the drama eminently Shake- herself, dozing at home and dreaming of spearian, which he read and recited to him- the morrow's milk, might envy. From self, which he altered and loved. In what hay harvest to wheat harvest the days gorgeous scenes he moved! With what slip by, and the river is always friendly, cloth-of-gold and blare of trumpets did he always harmless, fresh for the early bather, adorn his phantom folk! His narrow and cool for the legs of heated cattle. walls expanded, his low ceiling rose, until Sometimes, as the sculler passed in the he stood by the king's chair, or mingled evening, a little breeze, waking after the with courtiers prepared to chase the deer. slumber of the long hot day, made Ladies grave and gay passed through the the wheat murmur and the stream ripancient hall, or sat in bower at the tam- ple against the boat's side. When he had bour-frame. Here was a cavalier of more enough of steady journeying, Christothan Spanish gravity, there a first lord, pher used to lie in some shy back-water, witty and foppish as a Frenchman. Comic where the rare kingfisher may still be retainers, full of quaint conceits and seen, a flash of blended colours; or tied quips exceeding whimsical, carried aloft his boat to some dwarf shrub at the pasthe boar's head or the peacock. Passion, ture's edge, and watched the river swell pride, revenge, gaiety, extravagance, and across the weir. As the sun moved down love, breathed in the measured line." An the sky, shadows of the wooded slopes amount of labour was expended in the lay across the rich land, the babble of the effort to make this drama truly Shake- river grew more drowsy, and a hum of spearian, which would have vastly amazed voices came harmonized from some farthe simple actor, who charmed his jolly off village, as of a simple people chanting townsmen at the Globe. As the author together their evening hymn. Thus, on pored over the pages, touching and re- some Saturday night, did distance and the touching, polishing or roughening, the cat power of the time transform the rare reHobbes, curled in her favourite chair, marks of happy husbandmen swilling smiled on him with affection and con- thick beer at the pot-house into part of the tempt. When Mrs. Whiteham, followed chorus of praise. O fortunate labourers, if by the faithful Jemima, descended on the they did but know their own advantages ! apartment at two o'clock, bearing the dram- The season of harvest wages is at hand, atist's simple dinner, the peacock and of more plentiful liquor; and the winter boar hurried out by the window. Princes, and the workhouse are alike far off. conspirators, and prelates, men-at-arms, Moreover, they swell the pleasant sound servitors, and knaves, fled from the in the ears of one gentle creature, whose shrunken room. So may Sir Walter ale is of the mildest. The student with Raleigh be driven out by his own potato. beatified countenance lets slip his boat, Christopher dined at two, partly because and floating down the darkening stream, his landlady approved of an early dinner, gives himself to tender thoughts. partly because he liked to spend the long great folk of his tragedy do not intrude summer evenings in the air. At half-past upon that quiet hour; but sometimes two three the student returned from a stroll in grey eyes look from the shadows, and the the yard, or down the shady road which lisping of the waters is lost in the low leads riverward, and went again to his voice which calls the children from their books. Some. two hours later he medi- play. A light supper is the last event of tated over a tea-pot and loaf, while the cat the day. After that meal the book and Hobbes, with an ecstatic quiver of the tail, easy-chair detain their master until Mrs. enjoyed a saucer of milk. Then he pre- Whiteham at last succeeds in sending him pared for action. Sometimes he took a to bed. Thus the days go by, like a prolong walk among the fertile hills, follow- cession of sisters bearing summer gifts to ing the narrow path through the wheat, Demeter. Each, as she passes, lays a listening to the mower in the grass, cross-cool hand on the student's brow, and ing the tiny brook by the plank. More smooths the sleek fur on the back of the often he sculled against the pleasant cat Hobbes. But alas! what quiet is seThames. That most winsome river runs cure for cat or man? One evening as VOL. XIV. 680

LIVING AGE.

The

Christopher sipped his tea, and his companion lapped her milk, the green gates were burst open, quick steps scrunched the gravel of the yard, and there appeared at the window the animated and half-defiant countenance of Martin Carter.

II.

back for a last remark. "Look here," he said; "I came off in such a hurry that I brought nothing but a toothbrush. I suppose you can lend me some things." Christopher sleepily consented, and Martin, sweeping up an armful of clothes, retired to that repose which his friends believed impossible.

The next day was full of events. After WHERE Martin Carter was there might breakfast, during which meal the newbe pleasure, there could not be rest. He comer, arrayed in borrowed plumes, had had been visiting that college of Oxford, conducted a fiery attack on modern libwhere he had but lately lived as an under-eralism and the policy of laissez faire, graduate; and in the common-room of Christopher went up-stairs to find a new dons, whom he had favoured with infor- pipe for his friend's use, and during a mation on subjects ranging from the somewhat long search in the bed-room, a Aryan worship of our ancestors to the art revolution was effected in the parlour. of ratting, there was an universal though He paused in the doorway very shy and unacknowledged feeling of relief at his ab- open-mouthed in amazement. On the rupt departure. Yet they all liked him, save hearthrug supremely happy sat the only when he had roused the spirit of op- naughty girl. Her left hand grasped position latent even in young dons. Calm firmly a large slice of bread and jam, her and cultured as they were, and supremely right a cup of milk, while a saucer of the cautious in advancing the least deniable same harmless liquid solaced the cat statements, there was not one of them who Hobbes, who sat smiling at her side. Ophad not contradicted Martin Carter direct-posite to the forward child, astride on his ly and even rudely. Now rudeness is the chair and very straight in the back, sat one sin not to be pardoned by intellectual Martin Carter. He was asking short Oxford, and the presence of this terrible temptation was the cause of great uneasiness, while the remorse after an ebullition was almost too poignant to be borne. These collegians felt the pricking of their hair shirts, when their friend passed by. They had seen Christopher drift away from the classic air with affection and pity they shook off Martin with affection and relief.

The student welcomed his friend with a smile of pleasure and a sigh for his lost solitude. When Mr. Carter had enlarged upon the true method of making tea, and had finished the bread and butter, he suddenly grew hot at the thought of the river, swept Christopher to the bank, chose a boat and the stroke seat therein, and set to work with such zeal that in a moment they were hard aground. The evening's row was terrific, for the student, ever anxious to please, laboured like a slave at the oar, and the small craft flashed up the stream until it was time to dash down again. Nothing worthy of note occurred during supper-time. Afterwards, when Christopher felt more calm and had recovered his breath, he was entertained by many observations on things in general, and by some scathing criticisms on Oxford characters. "I can't stand those young dons," said Martin; "they all talk like a literary newspaper." When he had wished his friend good-night, he came

questions and making long comments on the answers. The student, after an awkward pause of doubt, advanced into the room, and gravely touched the little hand which held the cup. Then without a word he turned to the window and began to collect his thoughts. The infant stream was flowing by, and long before he had recovered his wonted calm he was disturbed again by the consciousness of his unusual prominence. His friend saw him blush, and jumped up just in time to see a young lady of much sweetness and simplicity pass into the schoolroom. "By George, sir," he cried, "that is the most charming girl I ever saw in my life!" "That is our schoolmistress," observed the naughty girl, peeping between the men, and with her mouth full of the last piece of bread and jam. "You be off!" cried Martin, and hustled her out. But the child would not allow a good custom to be destroyed by a chance windfall. Careful to prevent a precedent of omission, she appeared at the window as soon as she was thrust from the door. She looked at her old friend with a roguish eye, and held out a hand yet sticky with his favourite jam. On this adhesive palm the student, who was also fond of habits, placed a lump of sugar. "That is the most extraordinary child I ever saw," said Martin. "She explained the whole school system of this town to me in two

words. I never knew anything like it, glove. "I hope you are not hurt," he never!" said anxiously: then, as she smiled her thanks, he went on boldly-"I did not know that we might have the pleasure of meeting you at this time."

"I had forgotten something," said the little lady with a little blush.

"Can I be of any service?" asked he. "Oh, no, thank you; I won't trouble you," answered she.

It was very hard for the gentle scholar to settle down to his work that morning. Martin pulled out half-a-dozen of his books and read discursively. Snorts of protest broke the silence of the room, contemptuous whistles, occasional exclamations of rage and hate. At last, roused to uncontrollable fury by the pompous decasyllables under which a modern philosopher veiled the plainest statement from the vulgar, he flung down the book and jumped through the window. Christopher looked up with mild surprise, and Hobbes sprang astonished on to the bookcase. During the stay of so uncertain a visitor the great drama remained under lock and key, and Martin returning found his friend still occupied with the pedigree of that important word to which he had devoted the morning. Provoked by this fact, the impulsive it." Christopher turned scarlet, as the youth turned his back and drummed on the window-frame. At two the schoolmistress passed on her way home. Martin looked at her with respectful but undisguised admiration; Christopher peeped furtively round him.

"Do you know her?" asked the former suddenly.

"No," answered the other doubtfully. "I suppose I don't." He felt uneasy, and wondered why. His friend had brought the morning paper, and finding that the Commons were on the point of passing a paternal act, he improved the hour of dinner by a bitter onslaught on government interference with the liberty of the subject. Christopher, who was thinking of other things, said but little, and so increased his reputation with the ingenious Mr. Carter, who, in London, had been often heard to declare that he knew a man at Clodthorpe 'who was undoubtedly the first scholar and most promising philologist in the world. Nevertheless, during his visit to this prodigy, he showed no unconquerable desire for instruction.

That evening, when the two young men were on their way to the river, a strange thing happened. As they drew near to the great green gates, one of them was pushed lightly open, and the young schoolmistress appeared. Perhaps it was embarrassment which caused her to stumble on the threshold. Christopher blushed, swaying forward with the desire of help and backward with the fear of offence, but, while he swung like a disconcerted pendulum, Mr. Carter darted forward with a somewhat excessive show of alarm, and caught the little hand in the neat worn

And so these young folk became known to each other. Then a brilliant idea occurred to the impulsive youth. "I wanted to ask you a favour," he said. "The fact is that I am vastly interested in education. Might I see the working of your school, and-in fact ask the girls a few ques tions?" He saw her hesitate, and stepped lightly from imposture to falsehood. I have heard of your school from my friend here, and came down on purpose to see

66

young lady looked at him. He gasped in the presence of this tremendous statement. "II". he began. "Precisely," continued Martin: he has not seen it himself, but has heard much of it from Mrs. Whitewhatshername - his landlady, you know." Now this small teacher was not free from pride; she believed in her system, and thought it possible that the great minds of the metropolis were occupied among graver matters with the consideration of her school. She therefore informed the volunteer inspector with infinite condescension, that she would be happy to receive him on the morrow at noon.

"How could you say that you came to see her school?" asked Christopher, as they went down the shady road. "Diplomacy!" cried the other curtly. "It is very like lying," muttered the student. Martin was terribly vigorous on the river, perhaps doing penance. There was an absence of dash about Christopher.

III.

THE next morning at breakfast Mr. Carter entertained his friend by a passionate eulogy on the English Church. "By George, sir!" he exclaimed, in the course of his remarks, "we call ourselves enlightened, and talk rational religion, like the wretched prigs we are. Why, there is not a fellow going about in a high waistcoat who is not worth the whole pack of us. Look at their charity and their energy 1" The cat Hobbes, who hated enthusiasm, turned on the rug and looked the other way. Christopher made no defence. Indeed, he spoke but little, having an uneasy