fth dinner, he asked me to lend him fifty pounds; I did _not_ lend
him the fifty pounds.'

'He was as ignorant of German as of Hebrew,' said the youth; 'on which
account he was soon glad, I suppose, to transfer his pupil to some one
else.'

'He told me,' said the elder individual, 'that he intended to leave a
town where he did not find sufficient encouragement; and, at the same
time, expressed regret at being obliged to abandon a certain
extraordinary pupil, for whom he had a particular regard. Now I, who
have taught many people German from the love which I bear to it, and the
desire which I feel that it should be generally diffused, instantly said
that I should be happy to take his pupil off his hands, and afford him
what instruction I could in German, for, as to Hebrew, I have never taken
much interest in it. Such was the origin of our acquaintance. You have
been an apt scholar. Of late, however, I have seen little of you--what
is the reason?'

The youth made no answer.

'You think, probably, that you have learned all I can teach you? Well,
perhaps you are right.'

'Not so, not so,' said the young man eagerly; 'before I knew you I knew
nothing, and am still very ignorant; but of late my father's health has
been very much broken, and he requires attention; his spirits also have
become low, which, to tell you the truth, he attributes to my misconduct.
He says that I have imbibed all kinds of strange notions and doctrines,
which will, in all probability, prove my ruin, both here and hereafter;
which--which--'

'Ah! I understand,' said the elder, with another calm whiff. 'I have
always had a kind of respect for your father, for there is something
remarkable in his appearance, something heroic, and I would fain have
cultivated his acquaintance; the feeling, however, has not been
reciprocated. I met him, the other day, up the road, with his cane and
dog, and saluted him; he did not return my salutation.'

'He has certain opinions of his own,' said the youth, 'which are widely
different from those which he has heard that you profess.'

'I respect a man for entertaining an opinion of his own,' said the
elderly individual. 'I hold certain opinions; but I should not respect
an individual the more for adopting them. All I wish for is tolerance,
which I myself endeavour to practise. I have always loved the truth, and
sought it; if I have not found it, the greater my misfortune.'

'Are you happy?' said the yo