e most studied politeness, and
drawing a chair towards the table, I took my seat; as I expected, it put
my honoured father in a tremendous rage.

"If this is a specimen, sir, of your duty and respect, sir, I hope to
see no more of them. To whom your duty is due, sir!--and pray to whom
is it due, sir, if not to the author of your existence?" cried the
general, striking the table before him with his enormous fist, so as to
make the ink fly out of the stand some inches high and bespatter the
papers near it.

"My dear father, you are perfectly correct: duty, as you say, is due to
the author of our existence. If I recollect right, the commandment
says, `Honour your father and your mother;' but at the same time, if I
may venture to offer an observation, are there not such things as
reciprocal duties--some which are even more paramount in a father than
the mere begetting of a son?"

"What do you mean, sir, by these insolent remarks?" interrupted my
father.

"Excuse me, my dear father, I may be wrong, but if so, I will bow to
your superior judgment; but it does appear to me, that the mere hanging
me in a basket at the gate of the Foundling Hospital, and leaving me a
bank note of fifty pounds to educate and maintain me until the age of
twenty-four, are not exactly all the duties incumbent upon a parent. If
you think that they are, I am afraid that the world, as well as myself,
will be of a different opinion. Not that I intend to make any
complaint, as I feel assured that now circumstances have put it in your
power, it is your intention to make me amends for leaving me so long in
a state of destitution, and wholly dependent upon my own resources."

"You do, do you, sir? well, now, I'll tell you my resolution, which is--
There is the door--go out, and never let me see your face again."

"My dear father, as I am convinced this is only a little pleasantry on
your part, or perhaps a mere trial whether I am possessed of the spirit
and determination of a De Benyon, I shall, of course, please you by not
complying with your humorous request."

"Won't you, by Gad?" roared my father; then turning to his two native
servants, he spoke to them in Hindostanee. They immediately walked to
the door, threw it wide open, and then coming back to me, were about to
take me by the arms. I certainly felt my blood boil, but I recollected
how necessary it was to keep my temper. I rose from my chair, and
advancing to the side of the sofa I s