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and came here as his friend; it takes a long time to eradicate errors whose growth commenced in his nurse's arms, and you must have observed the state of suffering he has lived in—” the lads looked astonished-" yes, positive suffering," he resumed. "Whoever indulges selfishness in youth will be scourged by selfishness in after life. The selfish man would desire to live amongst slaves, who would pamper and indulge him; but happily, in England, there are no slaves to live amongst." Some of the boys clapped their hands, but the reproving eye of the master was upon them. "There are,"

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he continued, "a few whom interest or a weak affection may compel to endure the tyranny of selfishness; but such endurance could not be desired by a right-minded person, and, I think and believe, the time will come when Hector will agree with me." But, sir," said one of the boys, "he treats us as if we were his inferiors. We are all the sons of gentlemen, as well born as himself; and if he wants to be indulged he should conciliate. I am not to be insulted because my father has only a thousand a year, while his father has ten."

"We never had any talk about property until he came amongst us, sir," exclaimed another.

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Well, well," said the master, "I will inquire into the origin of this disturbance by-and-by. I have received a letter from Mr. Howard this morning, and he wishes to have his son home for a month."

Hector sprang to the Doctor's side.

let me go, will you not?"

"Oh, sir! you will

"I think your own heart will tell you that you do not deserve the indulgence, and yet! but come into my room." The Doctor led the way, and Hector followed.

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"I know what the Doctor is going to tell our most royal 'Number One,'" said young Rhody, rubbing his hands. "I had a letter from mamma this morning, and she visits Mrs. Howard's sister. I know what the only child' will hear, and I was greatly tempted to tell it out before you all when he insulted us, stuffing his gold down our throats, as if every guinea was a sponge-cake; but I did not like to hurt him as I knew what he will have to suffer. Well might the Doctor say, that whoever indulges selfishness in youth will be scourged by selfishness in after life."

"Is his poor mamma dead?" inquired Lycet.

"No, indeed; but you know how much Hector has been petted."

"To be sure we do."

"And how delighted he is at the prospect of being always 'Number One.""

"Yes, yes, we do," exclaimed the boys.

"And how he rejoices at not being troubled, as he calls it, with brothers and sisters."

"Oh, to be sure, we all know that, Rhody; have you nothing else to tell us?"

"Yes I have; he has got a new brother and sister." "What, both at once!" exclaimed several.

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Yes; I will read you a bit of mamma's letter." They gathered in a circle round him. "You will be astonished to hear that your schoolfellow, Hector Howard, so long considered the only heir to his father's property, is so no longer, his mamma having, the day before yesterday, presented his papa with twins."

At this, some of the boys to whom Hector had been very

overbearing, gave a shout, but the good feeling of others suppressed it; and all began talking immediately on the probable effects of this information, and conjectured how he would bear it. After a time they re-entered the school-room, but Hector was not there; I fear that the delicacy evinced by Rhody in not proclaiming the news before Hector (who frequently treated him with contempt, because of his comparative poverty) was hardly appreciated as it deserved to be by his companions. Rhody felt his narrow means more acutely than could be imagined; he turned with a careless air from the confectioner's basket, when he would have liked a cake as well as any other boy, and kept looking straightforward, instead of into the toyshop or fruiterer's, knowing that his purse was indeed slender. He often longed to help Hector with his lessons, but he knew that if he did so his schoolmates would say he was mean; and Hector, seeing Rhody so anxious to help all except himself, felt much annoyed at being excluded from such valuable aid; but now matters, at least so the goodnatured Rhody thought, were much changed. "Number One" was now only one of three. He glided from the school-room, and met the wardrobe woman on the stairs, who said Master Howard would not suffer her to pack his trunk. The next moment Rhody was at the door of Hector's pretty bedchamber-he knocked, at first there was no answer, again, when there was a surly "Come in," and Rhody entered. Hector was standing beside his open trunk, some of his clothes lying on the floor, some in the drawers. "What do you want?" inquired young Howard. "I knew you were going home," replied Rhody, thought I would come and help you."

"I do not want any help," was the sulky reply.

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