THE PHRENOLOGIST. 57 



felt at this blunt overthrow of his favorite theory he had great diffi- 

 culty in restraining ; but, assuming a smile anything but humorous, 

 he said, with forced composure, " Truly, my young friend, I admire 

 your candour ; but I pity your discrimination. The glories of science 

 are not yet made manifest to you : but let us change the subject. I 

 have an affair to discuss with you on which we shall better agree. It 

 strikes me we are not such strangers as I at first supposed. During 

 your illness I observed the traces of a wound in your head with 

 which I ought to be familiar ; and your features, though altered, I 

 can surely recognize. If I do not deceive myself, you are the son 

 of my friend and neighbour, Mr. Trevor." 



"' You are right, Sir, said the stranger, who seemed agitated by a 

 variety of emotions ; tf I had no idea you would have recognized me. 

 I intended, however, this very day, to have confided to you the 

 reason of my present situation, and asking your assistance ; but I 

 fear the reports which have doubtless reached this place to my preju- 

 dice have already deprived me of your good opinion." 



<e Why, I must be candid with you," returned the doctor ; " re- 

 ports are indeed to your prejudice; you are stated to be the seducer 

 of the daughter of that poor old woman on the beach, Mary Aldridge, 

 with many other irregularities which 



" They are false, Sir !" said Mr. Trevor vehemently, " as I hope 

 for mercy/' " I was quite assured of that," said the phrenologist, in 

 a very decided tone. " I am ready to stake my reputation that the 

 accusations against you are wholly disproved, on scientific prin- 

 ciples." 



" My dear Sir," said Mr. Trevor, warmly, " to whom am I in- 

 debted for your good opinion ? We have met but rarely, and long 

 ago; I thought I was almost unknown to you." 

 . The doctor, with much gravity, reached a large folio, and, turning 

 a few leaves, said, " You are indebted to one whom you must hence- 

 forward call friend." " I shall be indeed happy to acknowledge my 

 gratitude name my benefactor," said Trevor. " To Science to 

 whom you have hitherto been a stranger/' returned the doctor; 

 " listen." He then read from the open page : " Charles Trevor 

 moral and intellectual organs fully developed benevolence and 

 veneration very conspicuous baser propensities inconsiderable, and 

 under controul above conformation, denoting a worthy and esti- 

 mable character." " There, my young friend," continued the man 

 of science, " can any thing be more conclusive of your innocence of 

 these diabolical inventions?" and his little eyes twinkled with triumph. 

 I am sorry to say the next in my register is just the reverse : it treats 

 of your cousin, Frank Trevor a bad fellow, decidedly;" and he 

 kept muttering extracts from the folio. 



" My dear Doctor," interrupted Charles Trevor earnestly, " you 

 will indeed make me a convert, since Science has been my friend, 

 when I could least have expected it. My cousin, Frank Trevor, is 

 as you describe him. I have now good reason to know that he is the 

 secret cause of my present distress I know he was originally my 

 rival for the hand of Lady Emily; but I little thought him capable 

 of such base revenge. By some means he has succeeded in fixing 

 the guilt of the seduction of Mary Aldridge' s daughter on me, and 



