a boy himself.

He never inquired what progress they had made in their studies. He had
put them to school, and paid for their schooling, and if they had not
profited by their opportunities, it was no fault of his. Had he examined
them upon this important subject, he would, indeed, have been surprised
at the difference between them. Anthony, naturally studious, had made
the most of his time, while master Godfrey had wasted his, and brought
with him a small stock of literary acquirements, and many vices.

"What will my uncle say, when he finds how little you have learned
during the last half year?" said Anthony to his cousin, while they were
dressing for dinner.

"He'll never trouble his head about it, without you, Mr. Anthony, put
him up to it, to show off your superior powers of drudgery. But mark me,
Tony, if you dare to say one word about it, you and I shall quarrel."

"But what are we to do about Mr. Cunningham's letter? You know he gave
me one to give to your father; and I much fear that it contains some
remarks not very creditable to you."

"Did you give it to papa?"

"Not yet. Here it is."

"Let me look at the old fellow's autograph. What a bad hand for a
schoolmaster! I will spare my dear lazy father the trouble of
deciphering these villainous pot-hooks. Ha! ha! my good, industrious,
quiet, plodding cousin Anthony, heir of Oak Hall, in the county of
Wilts, there lies your amiable despatch;" and he spurned the torn
document with his foot. "That's the way that I mean to serve all those
who dare to criticise my actions."

"But, dear Godfrey, it is yourself that you injure by this awful waste
of your time and talents."

"Talents!--Fiddlesticks! What care I for talents, without it were those
shining substantial talents spoken of in the Scriptures--talents of gold
and silver. Give me these talents, my boy, and you may profit by all the
rest. Wasting of time! How can we waste that which we can neither
overtake, nor detain when ours, and which when past is lost for ever?
Miser of moments! in another school than thine, Godfrey Hurdlestone will
learn to improve the present."

"But those wasted moments, Godfrey, how will the recollection of them
embitter the future! Remember, my dear cousin, what our good chaplain
often told us--'Time is but the ante-chamber to Eternity!'"

"What, turned preacher! A prudent move that, Tony. I've heard that old
Ironsides has no less than five rich livings in his gift. Now, by Jo