4J)G EDUCATION AND LITERATURE 



lionising, if possible : my hopes on this head were disappointed on 

 the very threshold. I had resided for several days in quiet seclusion 

 at a second-rate inn in one of the principal sea-ports, when, as my 

 evil genius would have it, I was stumbled upon whilst examining; the 

 shipping, by a merchant, whom I remembered to have seen hanging 

 about the skirts of fashion in town, where he had observed me as a 

 brilliant star the focus of influence : the man pulled off his hat, and 

 I slightly returned his salute, and so I supposed the thing ended : I 

 was deceived this gentleman, though nobody from home, at home 

 was one of the principal magnates, and instantly spread the news 

 through his own circle, that so and so, about whom all the world had 

 gone mad, was in the town ; an earthquake would have excited less 

 amazement the bells were set ringing, a deputation from the town- 

 council, headed by the mayor with his gold chain, all very grand, as 

 the story-book says, pounced upon me, and treated me with such 

 ceremonious respect, that vexed as I was, I accepted an invitation to 

 a civic feast. The intelligence as to who I was, and what I was, 

 spread like wildfire, and produced an extraordinary sensation. 

 Hitherto my person had been unnoticed; I had walked about as 

 little regarded as my heart could desire, had visited the quays, 

 squares, streets, churches, public buildings, and no man deigned me 

 worth remark ; but now, whenever I stirred, I was followed by a 

 rabble of idle and curious persons, men and women, boys and girls 

 a crowd of the unwashed dogged my steps as if I had been some- 

 thing supernatural, while men of science and men of wealth waited 

 upon me with an officious zeal little short of idolatry. It was in 

 vain I endeavoured to screen myself the veil was withdrawn, and I 

 stood forth a ' character.' The daily papers were filled with reports 

 of my whereabout, and I was literally overwhelmed with attention. 



As there was no help for it, I submitted to the martyrdom, and 

 entered into the spirit of the scene as well as I could I found the 

 merchants wealthy, proud, and ostentatious, and profuse in their hos- 

 pitality. They formed what might be termed the aristocracy of 

 plebeianism, and in their sphere were quite as exclusive, and looked 

 down upon those who were beneath them in worldly consideration, 

 with full as much contempt as the aristocracy of rank. For a time 

 I was rather taken aback amongst them their manners, though frank 

 and cordial, wanted that unlimited ease which characterised their 

 superior fellows ; I was however soon at home, as, whether I would 

 or no, I was domesticated in the family of one of their chief 

 members this consisted of an only daughter and several sons: 

 with the former I was directly on terms of the greatest familiarity ; 

 for being a " character," the social barriers, if any such existed be- 

 tween acquaintance and intimacy, were at once removed. She was 

 a fine quick-witted girl, said to be very clever, and had had a 

 fortune expended on her education. The following conversation 

 will show what this had been, and what were its effects. 



" You play well, Miss S , and with much taste." 



" It would be a pity if I didn't, Sir, as I have been practising 

 music for ten years, and am besides fond of it." 



" You must have commenced the study of it very young : were 



