﻿DIGNITY ON TRIAL. 19 



friend of his missed the employment I now hold. Very well, said 

 the Chief Justice ; then I have thought of a method to set all this 

 matter right ; do you cause the most valuable of your effects to be 

 brought into your inner apartment, and, as soon as they are safe, let 

 the outward part of your palace be set on fire ; the Governor, as it is 

 his duty, will be forced to come to your assistance ; as soon as he 

 appears, deliver him the cabinet in which the seal was placed ; if it 

 was he who caused it to be stolen, he will be glad to restore it, and 

 at all events the blame will lie at his door, not yours. The Intend- 

 ant instantly pursued his friend's scheme ; the fire drew the Gov- 

 ernor thither, as they expected ; the cabinet was delivered to him in 

 a seeming fright; and the next day, when the danger was over, the 

 Intendant sending for it again, found the seal replaced; for the 

 Governor, finding himself over-reached, wisely compounded, by thus 

 returning the seal, for the fraud he had committed in procuring it. 

 Thus the calmness of the Chief Justice proved a remedy, where a 

 man of superior parts, but without equanimity, would have resigned 

 every hope, and abandoned himself to despair. 



Dignity on Trial. 



A YOUNG lady of rank and fortune went out to walk in her father's 

 wood. " Pray, madam, (said the gray-headed steward,) may I 

 humbly entreat that you will not go far from home ; you may meet 

 with strangers who are ignorant of your quality." " Give your 

 advice (answered she) when desired. I admit of no instructions 

 from servants. "--She walked on with satisfaction, enjoying a clear 

 sky and a cool breeze. Fatigue seized her, regardless of high birth ; 

 and she sat down on a smooth spot at the side of a high road, ex- 

 pecting some equipage to pass, the owner of w r hich would be proud 

 to convey her home. After long waiting, the first thing she saw was 

 an empty chaise, conducted by one who had formerly served her 

 father as a postilion. " You are far from home, madam ; will you 

 give me leave to set you down at my old master's ?" " Prithee, fel- 

 low, be not: officious." Night was fast approaching, when she was 

 accosted by a countryman on horseback, " Mistress, will you get up 



