disposition, all will go on swimmingly, as the Bible
says--ahem!"

"Where does the Bible say that all will go on swimmingly?"

"I don't remember the exact chapter and verse, my lord," he replied,
affecting a very grave aspect, "but I know it is somewhere in the Book
of Solomon--ahem!--ahem! Either in Solomon or Exodus the Prophet, I am
not certain which. Oh, no, by the by, I believe it is in the dialogue
that occurs between Jonah and the whale."

His father looked at him as if to ascertain whether his worthy son
were abandoned enough to tamper, in the first place, with a subject
so solemn, and, in the next, with the anxiety of his own parent,
while laboring, under age and infirmity, to wean him from a course of
dissipation and vice. Little indeed did he suspect that his virtuous
offspring was absolutely enacting his part, for the purpose of having
a good jest to regale Norton with in the course of their evening's
potations.

Let it not be supposed that we are overstepping the modesty of nature in
this scene. There is scarcely any one acquainted with life who does not
know that there are hundreds, thousands, of hardened profligates,
who would take delight, under similar circumstances, to quiz the
governor--as a parent is denominated by this class--even at the risk
of incurring his lasting displeasure, or of altogether forfeiting his
affection, rather than lose the opportunity of having a good joke to
tell their licentious companions, when they meet. The present age has as
much of this, perhaps, as any of its predecessors, if not more. But to
return.

"I know not," observed Lord Cullamore, "whether this is an ironical
affectation of ignorance, or ignorance itself; but on whichever horn of
the dilemma I hang you, Dunroe, you are equally contemptible and guilty.
A heart must be deeply corrupted, indeed, that can tempt its owner
to profane sacred things, and cast an aged and afflicted parent into
ridicule. You are not aware, unfortunate young man, of the precipice
on which you stand, or the dismay with which I could fill your hardened
heart, by two or three words speaking. And only that I was not a
conscious party in circumstances which may operate terribly against us
both, I would mention them to you, and make you shudder at the fate that
is probably before you."

"I really think," replied his son, now considerably alarmed by what he
had heard, "that you are dealing too severely with me. I am not, so
far as I know,