people in the world, my aunt was, perhaps, best entitled to be heard as a lecturer, a final authority, a "suprema lex," upon this particular subject. She herself was that quality embodied. I firmly believe that, as far as respected her own interest, so inexorably true was she to these darling maxims that she scarcely ever was guilty of an act of imprudence in the whole course of her somewhat protracted life.

Again she resumed her discourse.

"The two last maxims," she said, "respect the choice of friends; and they need no comment. Strong alliances are best wrought out of strong passions; just as strong chains must be forged in a hot fire. And he who is no one's enemy but his own,' must be best calculated to become a friend to every other person."

My aunt said no more, but took (which in her case was always both a cause and a consequence of joy) an enormous pinch of snuff at either nostril, gave me her hand with an inde

scribable look of self-complacency, and, majestically quitting the room, left me, I presume, to meditate upon the incalculable value of such a counsellor, aud of such counsels. But, as she gave me no express injunctions as to the nature of my immediate employment, instead of proceeding to meditate, I ventured to follow my own inclinations, and, accordingly, hurried away to break in a pointer-puppy for next September. In which occupation, however, I think it but just to acknowledge, that I found several of my aunt's maxims of incredible advantage; and, in the fulness of my satisfaction at the moment, I could not help exclaiming, more than once, "If so good for pointers, how very good must they be for men !"

I have forgotten to say, that for the three months which preceded my removal to college, my aunt Rachel had been confined to her room with an attack of rheumatism. This circumstance was wonderfully convenient for her sister's

plans. For, apprehending many evil conse quences from our coming in contact, she persisted, in spite of doctor, nurse, and patient, in calling the rheumatism a species of fever—and, of course, out of tender regard to my very delicate constitution, in prohibiting my approach to the scene of a contagious disorder. Accordingly, I left home for the university, without seeing my aunt Rachel. Often has she since

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told me what a pang this cost her. But her sufferings little occupied me at the moment. My habit, at that period of my life, thanks to aunt Winifred's maxims, was to think of no one's pangs or pleasures but my own.

Early in October, I set off for college, where those, who have no such repugnance to an university life as to prevent their following me, will find me in the next chapter.

CHAP. IX.

A MORNING IN COLLEGE.

ON as bright a morning as ever shone upon the cloistered windows of an university quadrangle, I opened my eyes in a cot of six feet by two and a half, where I had slept most profoundly for eight hours. I naturally lay in bed a short time, to meditate upon my new circumstances. I was possessed of rooms, of a wellreplenished purse, and of personal independence, for the first time in my life. Nor was this all. It has been said, that no human figure can, by the utmost exertions of art, be so constructed as to stand without the addition of some sort of fulcrum or prop. How much less, then, can the moral man be expected to stand erect, amidst the storms of the world, without certain fixed

rules or principles of action? But, then, such was my singular good fortune, that I was put in possession also of these. In my trunk lay the "code" of my aunt-nothing less than the condensed wisdom, not only of her life, but of many lives not less illustrious; and, according to the strict letter and spirit of which, I proposed to begin, to continue, and to end my university career. Now, all these circumstances presented fruitful topics for meditation. But, however attractive, they had not power long to detain me from rising to put my principles and privileges to the proof. I accordingly dressed, seated myself at my breakfast table, and entered, with much composure and self-gratulation, upon the functions of a college life. And I must say, that the debut was remarkably favourable to all my aunt's schemes. In the general devotion of all around to my particular convenience, appetites, and wishes, expressed or unexpressed, I found much to encourage me in that intense