eated more as a
familiar friend by all, than as a pupil. I stayed up with the family,
and took tea and supper with them. Rip made no appearance the evening
after his lecture, but retired to his chamber much indisposed. While
Mrs Causand was on her visit, I always breakfasted with her
_tete-a-tete_ in the little parlour, whose French windows opened upon
the garden; and it was on those occasions that I found her most amusing.
She knew everyone and everything connected with fashionable life.
Private and piquant, and I am sure authentic, anecdotes of every noble
family, she possessed in an exhaustless profusion. Nor was this
knowledge confined to the nobility: she knew more of the sayings and
doings of some of the princes of the blood than any other person living,
out of their domestic circle, and she knew many things with which that
circle were never acquainted. I am sure she could have made splendid
fortunes for twelve fashionable novel-writers.

I had breakfasted with Mrs Causand in the morning after Rip's
discomfiture, and then went to prosecute my studies in the schoolroom.
This was the first time that my tutor and I had met since his rebuff.
Monsieur Cherfeuil had not yet taken his place at his desk. As I passed
the assistant who assisted me so little, I gave him my usual smile of
greeting; but his countenance, instead of the good-humoured return, was
black as evil passions could make it. However, I paid but little
attention to this unfriendly demonstration, and, taking my seat, began,
as I was long privileged to do, to converse with my neighbour.

"Silence!" vociferated the man in authority. I conversed on. "Silence!
I say."

Not supposing that I was included in this authoritative demand, or not
caring if I were, I felt no inclination to suspend the exercise of my
conversational powers. After the third order for silence, this sudden
disciple of Harpocrates left his seat, cane in hand, and coming behind
me, I dreaming of no such temerity on his part, he applied across my
shoulders one of the most hearty _con amore_ swingers that ever left a
wale behind it, exclaiming at the same time, "Silence, Master Rattlin."

Here was a stinging degradation to me, almost an officer on the
quarter-deck of one of his Majesty's frigates! However, without taking
time to weigh exactly my own dignity, I seized a large slate, and,
turning sharply round, sent it hissing into his very teeth. I wish I
had knocked one or two o