ablished by himself as preparatory to Eton. Dr. Wortle had been
elected to an assistant-mastership at Eton early in life soon after he had
become a Fellow of Exeter. There he had worked successfully for ten
years, and had then retired to the living of Bowick. On going there he
had determined to occupy his leisure, and if possible to make his fortune,
by taking a few boys into his house. By dint of charging high prices and
giving good food,--perhaps in part, also, by the quality of the education
which he imparted,--his establishment had become popular and had outgrown
the capacity of the parsonage. He had been enabled to purchase a field or
two close abutting on the glebe gardens, and had there built convenient
premises. He now limited his number to thirty boys, for each of which he
charged L200 a-year. It was said of him by his friends that if he would
only raise his price to L250, he might double the number, and really make
a fortune. In answer to this, he told his friends that he knew his own
business best;--he declared that his charge was the only sum that was
compatible both with regard to himself and honesty to his customers, and
asserted that the labours he endured were already quite heavy enough. In
fact, he recommended all those who gave him advice to mind their own
business.

It may be said of him that he knew his own so well as to justify him in
repudiating counsel from others. There are very different ideas of what
"a fortune" may be supposed to consist. It will not be necessary to give
Dr. Wortle's exact idea. No doubt it changed with him, increasing as his
money increased. But he was supposed to be a comfortable man. He paid
ready money and high prices. He liked that people under him should
thrive,--and he liked them to know that they throve by his means. He
liked to be master, and always was. He was just, and liked his justice to
be recognised. He was generous also, and liked that, too, to be known.
He kept a carriage for his wife, who had been the daughter of a poor
clergyman at Windsor, and was proud to see her as well dressed as the wife
of any county squire. But he was a domineering husband. As his wife
worshipped him, and regarded him as a Jupiter on earth from whose nod
there could be and should be no appeal, but little harm came from this.
If a tyrant, he was an affectionate tyrant. His wife felt him to be so.
His servants, his parish, and his school all felt him to be so. They