e then blew his nose, addressed the boys in a
long oration--paid me a handsome compliment upon my able defence--proved
to all those who chose to listen to him that innocence would always
confound guilt--intimated to Barnaby that he must leave the school, and
then finding himself worn out with exhaustion, gave the boys a holiday,
that they might reflect upon what had passed, and which they duly
profited by in playing at marbles and peg in the ring. He then
dismissed the school, took me by the hand, and led me into his study,
where he gave vent to his strong and affectionate feelings towards me,
until the matron came to tell us that dinner was ready.

After this everything went on well. The Dominie's kindness and
attention were unremitting, and no one ever thought of caballing against
me. My progress became most rapid; I had conquered Virgil, taken
Tacitus by storm, and was reading the Odes of Horace. I had passed
triumphantly through decimals, and was busily employed in mensuration of
solids, when one evening I was seized with a giddiness in my head. I
complained to the matron; she felt my hands, pronounced me feverish, and
ordered me to bed. I passed a restless night the next morning I
attempted to rise, but a heavy burning ball rolled as it were in my
head, and I fell back on my pillow. The matron came, was alarmed at my
state, and sent for the surgeon, who pronounced that I had caught the
typhus fever, then raging through the vicinity. This was the first time
in my life that I had known a day's sickness--it was a lesson I had yet
to learn. The surgeon bled me, and giving directions to the matron,
promised to call again. In a few hours I was quite delirious--my senses
ran wild. One moment I thought I was with little Sarah Drummond,
walking in green fields, holding her by the hand. I turned round, and
she was no longer there, but I was in the lighter, and my hand grasped
the cinders of my mother; my father stood before me, again jumped
overboard and disappeared; again the dark black column ascended from the
cabin, and I was prostrate on the deck. Then I was once more alone on
the placid and noble Thames, the moon shining bright, and the sweep in
my hand, tiding up the reach, and admiring the foliage which hung in
dark shadows over the banks. I saw the slopes of green, so pure and so
fresh by that sweet light, and in the distance counted the numerous
spires of the great monster city, and beheld the various b