the world would not come near you. You must have principles
forsooth! and you must marry Miss Gorgon, of course: and by the
time you have gone ten circuits, and had six children, you will have
eaten up every shilling of your wife's fortune, and be as briefless
as you are now. Who the deuce has put all this nonsense into your
head? I think I know."

Mr. Perkins's ears tingled as these hard words saluted them; and he
scarcely knew whether he ought to knock his uncle down, or fall at
his feet and say, "Uncle, I have been a, fool, and I know it." The
fact is, that in his interview with Miss Gorgon and her aunt in the
morning, when he came to tell them of the resolution he had formed
to give up the place, both the ladies and John himself had agreed,
with a thousand rapturous tears and exclamations, that he was one of
the noblest young men that ever lived, had acted as became himself,
and might with perfect propriety give up the place, his talents
being so prodigious that no power on earth could hinder him from
being Lord Chancellor. Indeed, John and Lucy had always thought the
clerkship quite beneath him, and were not a little glad, perhaps, at
finding a pretext for decently refusing it. But as Perkins was a
young gentleman whose candour was such that he was always swayed by
the opinions of the last speaker, he did begin to feel now the truth
of his uncle's statements, however disagreeable they might be.

Mr. Crampton continued:--

"I think I know the cause of your patriotism. Has not William Pitt
Scully, Esquire, had something to do with it?"

Mr. Perkins COULD not turn any redder than he was, but confessed