e--a man that's in the
habit of getting his nose pulled should be very inoffensive."

"Very well," said gallant Phil, "I'll say no more, but--" He then put
spurs to handsome Harry, and rode off, full of vengeance against Sharpe,
and of indignation at the contumelious reception he experienced at the
hands of his grandfather.

Val's letter to M'Slime was, as our readers know, anything but an index
to the state of regard in which he held that worthy gentleman. As we
said, however, that ground was beginning to break a little under his
feet, in spite of all his unction and Christian charity, we shall, while
Darby is on his way to deliver his letter, take that opportunity of
detailing a conversation between honest Solomon and Poll Doolin, upon
one or two topics connected with our tale.

"Sam," said Solomon to his clerk, "you were not present with us at
prayer this morning! You know we do not join in family worship until
you come; and it is but our duty to take an interest in your spiritual
welfare. In the meantime, I should regret, for your own sake, that
anything in the shape of a falling away from your opportunities should
appear in you. I speak now as your friend, Sam, not as your master--nay,
rather as your brother, Sam--as a man who is not without his own
lapses and infirmities, but who still trusts--though not by his own
strength--that he may be looked upon, in some faint degree, as an
example of what a man, wrestling with the cares and trials of life,
ought at, least, to strive to be. To Him be the praise!"

"I certainly overslept myself this morning, sir--that is the truth."

"Yes, Sam; sloth is one of the disguises under which the enemy often
assails and overcomes us. But to business, Sam. There is an old woman in
Castle Cumber, whose name I scarcely remember. She goes dressed in faded
black, and has a son, to whom, for wise purposes of course, it pleased
Him to deny a full measure of ordinary sense?"

"Poll Doolin, sir, the old child-cadger, and her foolish son, Raymond of
the hats."

"Don't say foolish, Sam; don't say foolish--we know not well what the
true difference between wisdom and folly is, nor how much wisdom is
manifested in the peculiar state of this person. We know not, indeed,
whether what we blindly, perhaps, term folly, may not be a gift to
be thankful for. You know the Word says, that the wisdom of man is
foolishness before God. Our duty therefore is, to be thankful and
humble."

"Well, sir;