390 The Golden Cily. [OcT. 



sees every day he thinks nothing of; and millions pass the Monument 

 daily, without more notice than they would bestow on a watch-house." 



" I believe you are right ; for the inhabitants of London seem to leave 

 it as often as they can. Yet, certainly, all classes of men are richer here 

 than in the country ?" 



" A very common mistake: London is the poorest place in England, 

 and half the splendour you see is rotten the pride which goes before 

 destruction. All live up to their income, and thousands beyond it, 

 almost from necessity." 



" I will return, certainly, and throw myself on the mercy of Mr. 

 Johnson." 



" Do so : own that you have been wrong ; and when, in future, you 

 see any one dreaming of wealth and grandeur, and quitting certainty 

 for hope, tell him your own experience : if he has nothing, let him come 

 to London ; but if he is provided for at home, advise him to stay there ; 

 and assure him that, if here he may find a larger carcase, he will also 

 find a far greater number of eagles." 



" I will write to Mr. Johnson immediately," said Maurice. 



" By no means," replied Warren. " If you have any favour to seek, 

 always make a personal application ; it is much more difficult to refuse 

 than a written one, and it must be answered one way or another." 



Maurice took, with much gratitude, the advice so kindly offered him, 

 and the same evening set out for his native town. His pride, which 

 had yielded to arguments enforced by immediate distress, returned as 

 the prospect of humiliation approached more nearly ; and when he was 

 set down at the Castle inn, he had almost resolved to return again to the 

 metropolis. But it happened that, in taking up a local newspaper, an 

 advertisement met his eye, which turned his thoughts into another chan- 

 nel. It was one of those extravagant scholastic annunciations which 

 excite at once pity and contempt : the boys were to be taught with 

 miraculous exactness and celerity, and no vacations were given but at 

 the option of the parents. The name of the principal was Merivale ; 

 and all doubt as to the identity of the person was removed by his seeing 

 him, shortly afterwards, pass the window, shabbily dressed, and driving 

 before him two or three boys not his superiors in appearance. 



It is needless to explain how his feelings were affected by the spec- 

 tacle of a man, bred up in ease and affluence, reduced to the adoption of 

 a profession than which there was none more laborious, and few for 

 which he could have been more unqualified. He proceeded with humi- 

 lity and alacrity to the house of his relative, freely avowed his circum- 

 stances, and met with less severity than he anticipated. The anger of 

 Mr. Johnson could not be very inveterate against a man who came to tell 

 him he was right, and to admit himself a fool in having ever differed 

 from him. 



It remained for him to make his peace in another quarter; and when 

 he again saw Juliet, he was enabled, by a more extended knowledge of 

 the world, to do justice to her merits. If she wanted the refinements, 

 she wanted also the vices of the town. She was not elegant nor fashion- 

 able ; but neither was she affected and vain, or addicted to filthy and 

 tawdry finery ; and her appearance had all those graces which peculiarly 

 belong to health and nature. In short, running, as he was wont, into 

 extremes, he began to admire those very defects he had once despised ; 

 and having conceived a strong disgust for the Golden City, he consigned 

 it to utter detestation, hated all that reminded him of it, and was really 

 happy in having escaped the fulfilment of his most anxious wish. 



