Doleful were the accounts received from time to time of Louis Mortimer's life with his tutor at Dashwood Rectory; and, if implicit credence might be yielded to them, it would be supposed that no poor mortal was ever so persecuted by Latin verses, early rising, and difficult problems, as our hero.

His eldest brother, to whom these pathetic relations were made, failed not to stimulate him with exciting passages of school life--and these, at last, had the desired effect, drawing from Louis the following epistle: "My dear Reginald, "Your letter was as welcome as usual.

You cannot imagine what a treat it is to hear from you.

Mr.Phillips is kind, but so very different from dear Mr.Daunton.What I dislike most is, that he says so often, 'What _did_ Mr.Daunton teach you?
I never saw a boy so ignorant in my life!' I do not care how much he says of me, but I cannot bear to hear him accuse dear Mr.Daunton of not teaching me properly.

I believe I am really idle often, but sometimes, when I try most, it seems to give least satisfaction.