deal too bad, and I'll tell master of it myself, if nobody
else won't".

"Tell master of it himself!"--he also suspected him then. This crushed
my last faint hope that, after all, it might turn out to be only a trick
of the pupils; and, overpowered by the utter vileness and depravity of
him who was set in authority over me, I buried my face in the pillow,
feeling a strong inclination to renew the lamentations of the preceding
night. Not many minutes had elapsed when the sound of a heavy footstep
slowly ascending the stairs attracted my attention. I raised my head,
and beheld the benevolent countenance (for even then it certainly did
wear a benevolent expression) of my wicked tutor, regarding me with a
mingled look of scrutiny and pity.

"Why, Fairlegh, what's all this?--Thomas tells me you are not able to
come down to breakfast; you are not ill, I hope?"

"No, sir," replied I, "I don't think I am very ill, but I _can't_ come
down to breakfast."

"Not ill, and yet you can't come down to breakfast! pray, what in the
world prevents you?"

"Perhaps," said I (for I was becoming angry at what I considered his
unparalleled effrontery, and thought I would give him a hint that he
could not deceive me so easily as he seemed to expect), "perhaps you can
tell that better than I can."

~17~~"I, my boy!--I'm afraid not; my pretensions to the title of doctor
are based on divinity, not physic:--however, put out your tongue--that's
right enough; let me feel your hand--a little cold or so, but nothing to
signify; did this kind of seizure ever happen to you at home?"

Well, this was adding insult to injury with a vengeance; not content
with stealing my clothes himself, but actually asking me whether such
things did not happen at home! The wretch! thought I; does he suppose
that everybody is as wicked as himself?

"No," I answered, my voice trembling with the anger I was scarcely
able to repress; "no, sir, such a thing never could happen in my dear
father's house."

"There, don't agitate yourself; you seem excited: perhaps you _had_
better lie in bed a little longer; I will send you up something warm,
and after that you may feel more inclined to get up," said he kindly,
adding to himself, as he left the room, "Very strange boy--I can't make
him out at all".

The door closed, and I was once more alone. "Is he guilty or not
guilty?" thought I; "if he really has taken the clothes, he is the most
accomplished hypocrite I ever hea