him. The worst passions are softened by triumph, and
I foresaw that mine was at hand.

The whole examination was over. Every boy had passed it. The masters
retired for a moment; they reappeared and reseated themselves. The first
sound I heard was that of my own name. I was the victor of the day: I
was more; I was one hundred marks before my brother. My head swam round;
my breath forsook me. Since then I have been placed in many trials of
life, and had many triumphs; but never was I so overcome as at that
moment. I left the hall; I scarcely listened to the applauses with which
it rang. I hurried to my own chamber, and threw myself on the bed in a
delirium of intoxicated feeling, which had in it more of rapture than
anything but the gratification of first love or first vanity can bestow.

Ah! it would be worth stimulating our passions if it were only for the
pleasure of remembering their effect; and all violent excitement should
be indulged less for present joy than for future retrospection.

My uncle's step was the first thing which intruded on my solitude.

"Od's fish, my boy," said he, crying like a child, "this is fine
work,--'Gad, so it is. I almost wish I were a boy myself to have a match
with you,--faith I do,--see what it is to learn a little of life! If
you had never read my play, do you think you would have done half so
well?--no, my boy, I sharpened your wits for you. Honest George Etherege
and I,--we were the making of you! and when you come to be a great man,
and are asked what made you so, you shall say, 'My uncle's play;' 'Gad,
you shall. Faith, boy, never smile! Od's fish, I'll tell you a story as
_a propos_ to the present occasion as if it had been made on
purpose. Rochester and I and Sedley were walking one day, and--_entre
nous_--awaiting certain appointments--hem!--for my part I was a little
melancholy or so, thinking of my catastrophe,--that is, of my play's
catastrophe; and so, said Sedley, winking at Rochester, 'Our friend is
sorrowful.' 'Truly,' said I, seeing they were about to banter me,--for
you know they were arch fellows,--'truly, little Sid' (we called Sedley
Sid), 'you are greatly mistaken;'--you see, Morton, I was thus sharp
upon him because when you go to court you will discover that it does not
do to take without giving. And then Rochester said, looking roguishly
towards me, the wittiest thing against Sedley that ever I heard; it was
the most celebrated _bon mot_ at court for three wee