CHAPTER XXXVIII

Die and endow a college or a cat.

POPE.


There is a fable told by Lucian, that while a troop of monkeys,
well drilled by an intelligent manager, were performing a tragedy
with great applause, the decorum of the whole scene was at once
destroyed, and the natural passions of the actors called forth
into very indecent and active emulation, by a wag who threw a
handful of nuts upon the stage. In like manner, the approaching
crisis stirred up among the expectants feelings of a nature very
different from those of which, under the superintendence of Mr.
Mortcloke, they had but now been endeavouring to imitate the
expression. Those eyes which were lately devoutly cast up to
heaven, or with greater humility bent solemnly upon earth, were
now sharply and alertly darting their glances through shuttles,
and trunks, and drawers, and cabinets, and all the odd corners of
an old maiden lady's repositories. Nor was their search without
interest, though they did not find the will of which they were in
quest.

Here was a promissory note for 20 Pounds by the minister of the
nonjuring chapel, interest marked as paid to Martinmas last,
carefully folded up in a new set of words to the old tune of 'Over
the Water to Charlie'; there was a curious love correspondence