 here also, I presume, you are upon Honour; you are entrusted with Secrets, and would not for the World betray them to your Readers.
Sir, you never were more mistaken. I know nothing at all of these People's Affairs. As soon as they are able they will speak for themselves. I know of no Advantage that they can get by their Silence, whatever they may derive from your Compassion and Generosity by telling their Case. But the Doctor, for the present, will not permit them. --Proceed, my Friend, I pray you. Your Patience will have but a very short Trial.
CHAP. VI.
ABOUT a Month before this, Mr.
Fenton
had engaged one Mr.
Vindex,
the Schoolmaster of the Town, to come, for an Hour every Evening, and initiate the two Boys in their
Latin
Grammar. But, he had a special Caution given him, with respect to the generous Disposition of our Hero, which was said to be induced to do any Thing, by Kindness; but to be hardened and rouzed into Opposition by Severity.
In about ten Days after the late Adventure, Mr.
Fenton
was called to
London,
where he was detained, about three Weeks, in settling his Books with his
Dutch
-Correspondents; and in calling in a very large Arrear of Interest, that was due to him upon his Deposits in the Funds.
During his Absence, Mr.
Vindex
began to assume a more expanded Authority, and gave a freer Scope to the surly Terrors of his Station.
Ned
was, by Nature, a very lively, but very petulant Boy; and when
Vindex,
reproved him with the imperial Brow and Voice of the great Mogul,
Ned,
cast upon him an Eye of such significant Contempt, as no Submissions or Sufferings, on the Part of the Offender, could ever after compensate.
The next Day, Mr.
Vindex
returned, doubly armed, with a monstrous birch Rod, in one Hand, and a Ferule in the other. The first he hung up, in Terrorem, as a Meteor is said to hang in the Heavens, threatening future Castigation to the Children of Men. The second he held, as determined upon present Action; nor was he unmindful of any Hook, whereon to hang a Fault; so that, travelling from Right to Left, and from Left to Right, he so warmed the Hands of the unfortunate
Edward,
as ruined the funny Oeconomy of his Countenance, and reduced him to a disagreeable Partnership with the Afflicted.
On the Departure of
Vindex,
though
Ned
's Drollery
