1831.] The Tutor-Fiend and his three Pupils. 251 



side, with this gold in my hand, and some miserable wretch, with pistol 

 at my head, should ask me for the coin, I'd freely give it him ; and, 

 pitying his poverty who made gold his only wealth, I'd raise my empty 

 hands towards heaven, and, in the lasting beauty of creation, count me 

 beyond all princes — rich !" 



" Look on this gold," cried Rapax, in a deep, commanding voice. — • 

 There was fascination in the metal. The youths looked silently and 

 intensely ; their souls were in their eyes, and they were spell-bound. 

 Their bosoms heaved, their mouths gaped, their fingers clutched the 

 air, and tears rolled down their cheeks. The fiend had entered their 

 hearts. The old man's face was wrinkled with delight, and a ghastly 

 smile lurked at his shrivelled lips. The youths were changed, as if by 

 magic — they were the bondsmen of sin and rapine ! 



It was evening when the scholars quitted the hut. The old man gave 

 to each a piece of coin. They had not proceeded far ere they were 

 accosted by a wretched, starving woman, with a half-naked babe. She 

 first addressed herself to Scowl — " In the name of Heaven, young sir, 

 and as you hope to change this miserable world for one where sorrow 

 never enters, give me charity for the sake of my poor babe !" 



" And will you live to beg .'' — in the grave there is independence. 

 Seek it !" — and Scowl passed onward. 



The woman then turned to Topaz. — " You are merry, .my good 

 woman ; you would but try us ! — Have beauty, yet ask for charity .'' 

 Go to cities — go to cities !" 



She then appeared to Blitheheart. He was about to speak — then 

 paused, and at length stammered an excuse — " he had no money." 



The youths proceeded on their way. For a time they were silent. 

 At length Scowl observed, " Surely our master works by magic — else I 

 had not denied that woman. But a short time, and though I frowned at 

 man and all his wants, yet would I have taken out my purse, and, 

 laughing at the abjectness of nature, emptied its contents to the crowd, 

 to see them — like hungry fowls for barley — fight, and peck, and sidle 

 for the grain. Now, I would dash among the feeders, and, scaring them 

 hence, fill my own pouch with their corn, even though it grew mouldy 

 whilst its rightful owners starved. A short time since, I scorned the 

 world's misery and corruption — now, I will prey upon them. My heart 

 is, on a sudden, hard and moistureless. Good thoughts have vanished 

 from my brain — tears are dried up in mine eyes." 



" And where I would have smiled or meditated," said Topaz, " now 

 I would sneer and answer groans with gibes." 



" Never before," cried Blitheheart, " could I have resisted that 

 woman's appeal. I told a lie, and yet I did not blusli. Surely we are 

 bewitched !" 



" But awakened to reason," replied Scowl. " The film is taken from 

 our eyes. The eye of worldly reason looks further into earth than the 

 vision of romantic youth pierces the heavens." 



" How long," asked Blitheheart, " do our wise fathers propose to 

 keep us at this academy ? When are we to enter the world ?" 



" I know not — but soon, I hope," said Topaz ; " for I long to have a 

 matcli with its cunning creatures." 



" All in good time," remarked Scowl. " We are awhile to look on 

 the game before we play. Farewell ; the night is coming on — and now 



