CHAPTER IV 



The hero enters upon the stafje of life, ami also on another stage, which, with 

 various incidents narrated in thiscliaptei.', will be found corroborative of the 

 adage, that— 'as tlie twig- is bent, the tree's inclined.' 



I HAVE already presented to the reader the character and 

 situation of the brother of Mr. Raby, uncle to the two boys ; 

 but it may be necessary further to observe that, havino- made 

 up his mind to remain a bachelor, as more congenial to his 

 unconquerable love of ease and quiet, as well as to his gene- 

 rally epicurean habits, he liad settled in his own mind that 

 Frank Raby should succeed to his fortune, which, as I have 

 already stated, was considerable, and likel}' to increase rather 

 than diminish in liis hands. This being the case, it is but 

 reasonable to suppose that he interested himself in every- 

 thing relating to the formation of the character of his intended 

 heir, wlio, although he rather encouraged than checked his 

 desire to become a sportsman, he was very anxious sliould 

 become a scholar, to fit him for that place in society it was his 

 intention to have occupied himself, but which constitutional 

 indolence put a bar to. With this view, then, he paid a visit to 

 the Abbey, to talk over matters with his brother, respecting the 

 future education of his nephew ; it liaving been communicated 

 to him, that, after the midsummer holidays, both Frank and his 

 brother Andrew were to be sent to a public school. The result 

 of this visit, as regarded the point in question, will be seen in 

 the following dialogue : — 



' Well, brother,' said Mr. Beaumont Raby, ' I find the boys 

 make their debut in the world after midsunnner ; have you 

 determined on Eton ? ' 



' Why, as we were Etonians ourselves,' replied Mr. Rabj^ 

 ' and have had no cause to repent of having been so, I see no 

 objection to Eton ; but have you yourself any ? ' 



' None whatever, to the school. Dr. George Heath, who is at 

 the head of it, and Dr. Goodall, the second master, are both 

 scholars ; although the first, in spite of his witty translation of 

 the celebrated line — 



' " iUe dolet vcre, ([ui sine teste dolet," 



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