"Could-could you black my face?" was Raffleton's next question. The mayor edged his chair away from his host, as if he began to en. tertain a strong confirmation of a previous opinion which he had formed,—viz. that he was sitting next to a lunatic. "Your face, sir?" said Mumbo Jumbo. anything for you,—and such tipple as this here, sir."

“To be sure, sir. I'd do

"What in the name of goodness have you got in your head?" asked Mr. Richardson Lane. This inquiry was echoed by all the party. "Head ?" said Raffleton. "The best part of a bottle of port, and a sublime idea. Nothing more."

To state what this sublime idea was, or, indeed, to follow the conversation any further, would be, in the present stage of the proceed. ings, to do away with any little interest which might possibly attach itself to our next Chapter. We shall therefore content ourselves with the simple statement, that at the departure of the Mayor and Corporation, which took place soon afterwards, Mr. John Raffleton might have been seen sitting by the bedside of his Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Ootaloota, manifesting particular satisfaction at being informed that he was positively too ill to proceed to Oxford till the morning, and instituting sundry inquiries into the nature of the territory of Ootaloota, and the extent of his Royal Highness's acquaintance with the beforementioned missionary, Birch.

CHAPTER XI.

TRANSPORTS THE READER BACK TO OXFORD.

WHILE these proceedings are enacting at Henley, the course of events requires that we should return to the head-quarters of our story at Oxford, and bring the reader once more into close contact with that important personage, the Reverend Burnaby Birch.

The preparations requisite for the comfort of his expected visiter, the Crown Prince, had made it an unusually busy day for the Rever. end Burnaby. The opposite rooms to his own had been fitted up for the reception of so distinguished a guest; the scout had been expressly ordered to keep an enormous warming-pan in readiness for his Royal Highness's retirement to his couch, and the Reverend Burnaby himself was seated over against an extensive cold supper, which he had considerately ordered, to impress his visiter with a favourable idea of college hospitality.

As the time, however, drew near for his arrival, the worthy Burnaby began to feel sundry misgivings as to his own wisdom in having given the invitation. He knew nothing either of his Royal Highness him. self, or of the customs of the country from which he came. Ootaloota was to him, as to Raffleton, an unknown district. All that he had ever heard of his intended guest was through the letters of his brother, the missionary, and they merely stated the Prince's kindness to himself, and intention to visit England. Furthermore, inasmuch as the letter of invitation to stay with him during his visit to Oxford had been an. swered in the affirmative by his Royal Highness's private secretary, the reverend gentleman was not exactly sure whether his sable guest would be able to converse with him in such language as he would himself be

able to comprehend. Upon the whole, therefore, he began to think he had done rather a silly thing.

"However, it can't be helped now," said the Reverend Burnaby to himself. "I hope he won't stay long. I shall get him off to bed as soon as I can to-night. I wonder what sort of English he speaks. Not much of a hand at that, I take it. Cold beef is a language everybody understands, though,-and these pickles are Indian, so they're quite in his way. Besides, after all, I should like to hear something of my brother. If he brings any interpreters or servants they must sleep at the Star-that's all. Richard!"

This invocation was answered by the scout, who appeared most elaborately adorned with a white neckcloth for the occasion.

Richard," said his master. I think it will be as well to have two of the college servants to stand with lanterns to light the Prince through the quadrangle."

In the propriety of this arrangement Richard fully acquiesced, and withdrew to execute it. Presently the Reverend James Smiler made his appearance, having been invited to supper, in consideration of his having given up his own rooms for the accommodation of his friend's expected guest; and, furthermore, of his having composed the Latin oration in which the worthy proctor had to propose his Royal Highness for a D.C.L. on the following day. The host now began to feel

more at his ease.

Not long afterwards, a post-chaise drew up before the gates of the College. The porter was all alacrity; the scouts with lanterns rushed forward; and out of the vehicle deliberately descended a stout individual, of a most Oriental appearance, whose dark visage and singular costume at once announced to the submissive menials the expected arrival. The men with the lanterns bowed; and the black gentleman requested, in very tolerable English, to be shown to the Reverend Burnaby Birch's apartments. At the gates stood a knot of undergra. duates looking at him.

"This way, your lordship," said the men with the lanterns, and away marched the black gentleman after them across the quadrangle, and was ushered with great state into the presence of the two ecclesiastics.

"I-I am delighted and honoured beyond measure, your Royal Highness," began the Reverend Burnaby.

"No, sir," said the gentleman in the turban: "I am not the Prince -I am only his interpreter. His Royal Highness has sent me to say he is ill, and unable to come to Oxford till to-morrow morning." Indeed, sir," said the Reverend Burnaby; "I am truly sorry. How is that?"

66

The foreign gentleman proceeded to recount the unfortunate accident which his patron had met with, and his inability to leave his bed that evening.

"Dear me," said the Proctor, "this is unfortunate. I hope, sir, that at all events you will stay with us till his Royal Highness's arrival."

66

66 Thank you, sir," said the interpreter; "I must return to-night." At any rate you will take some supper, sir," said the Proctor. Why-thank you, sir," said the black gentleman; and after a little persuasion down he sat. As the meal proceeded, the Reverend

Burnaby began to ask various questions respecting Ootaloota, how long they had been in England, &c. &c., to all of which he received most fluent answers.

"Pray, sir," said the Proctor, "I don't know-perhaps you may remember a brother of mine-a missionary-a Mr. Birch-eh ?—who was out there ?"

"Oh, perfectly, sir," said his guest.

"His Royal Highness was very kind to him, he wrote me word," pursued the Proctor.

"Yes, sir," said the interpreter, who seemed for some reason or other desirous of changing the subject.

"How was he, sir, when you saw him last, may I ask?" said the Reverend Burnaby.

"I believe, sir, he was very well in health," replied the interpreter. "Good gracious! sir, you speak as if something had happened to him which I am not aware of," said the Proctor.

"Oh no, sir," said the interpreter; "nothing particular, I assure you."

"Pray let me know all, sir," said the agonized Burnaby. "Oh, sir, it was nothing-a mere nothing.

The fact was, that at

first he was a very zealous missionary, and his Royal Highness was very fond of him; but latterly-"”

"Yes, sir," said the Proctor; " latterly what ?"

"Latterly, sir, he took to a more idle course of life. He used to lie on a couch of feathers all day—"

"Feathers!" said the astonished Burnaby.

"Feathers," said the black man," while two slaves flapped him to sleep with other feathers."

66

Flapped him to sleep!" ejaculated Burnaby." He was such an active-quiet man !"

"Yes, sir, he altered sadly," said his informant. "His seraglio was the talk of all Ootaloota."

"Good heavens !" said the Reverend Burnaby. rious, sir, surely ?"

"You are not se

"I am, indeed, sir," said the interpreter. "I am very sorry you have asked me, because I know how painful such things are to the feelings; but "

What he was about to say, or what other tales might have come out of the missionary's delinquencies, can never be known; for just at that moment the scout announced that a man had brought a letter for the Proctor, and wished to speak to him outside.

At this news the interpreter jumped up, and suddenly announced his intention of departing immediately. The Proctor strove in vain to detain him; and, after assuring him that his Royal Highness would most probably be there in time for the Commemoration, his guest rushed hastily from the room, nearly knocking the man down who was waiting outside.

"Where do you come from?" he heard the Proctor ask.

"The devil you do!" said Mr. John Raffleton, for he was the interpreter, and he rushed furiously out of the college gates.

What the letter contained, and the result thereof, will be seen hereafter.

ΤΟ

INDEX

THE FOURTH

VOLUME

Clark, Jeremiah, account of his com.
mitting suicide, 524.
Colin Clink, further particulars respect.
ing his residence at Miss Sowersoft's,
96. 206. 414; conversation between
his mother and Miss Sowersoft, 424;
improves in health at his mother's resi
dence, and returns to Miss Sowersoft,
528; his advice to Fanny, 534; his in-
terview with Squire Lupton, 626; his
Plan for rescuing Fanny's father from
Dr. Rowel's madhouse, 635. 637.
Conqueror's Grandsire, a poem, 271.
Crayon Papers, the, Account of Wolfert's

Roost, 24. 159; Sleepy Hollow, 164.
Crime and its Punishment, see Moral
Economy of Large Towns.

Edward VI. King of England, his resi-
dence at Hampton Court, 300.
Edwy, King, persecutions of, owing to
his marriage with Elgiva, 158.
Eel-Pie Island, account of, 86.
Elder, A., Tales and Legends of the Isle
of Wight by, 66. 253; a Legend of
Puckaster, 368.

Elgiva, the Queen of King Edwy, her
persecutions by the Clergy, owing to
her marriage with him, 158.
Enchanted Island, or the Adalantado of
the Seven Cities, a legend of St. Bran-
dan, 275.

F.

Farewell Sonnet, 597.
First Farewell, a poem, 352.
"Friends of Suicide," Society of, in
Paris, 526.