Hopes of thee. If thou art wise, thou wilt think
every Man thy Superior, of whom thou canst get any thing; at least thou wilt
persuade him that thou thinkest so, and that is sufficient. Tom, Tom, thou hast
no Policy in thee.«
    »What have I been learning these seven Years,« answered he, »in the
University? However, Father, I can account for your Opinion. It is the common
Failing of old Men to attribute all Wisdom to themselves. Nestor did it long
ago; but, if you will enquire my Character at College, I fancy you will not
think I want to go to School again.«
    The Father and Son then went to take their Walk, during which the former
repeated many good Lessons of Policy to his Son, not greatly, perhaps, to his
Edification. In Truth, if the old Gentleman's Fondness had not, in a great
Measure, blinded him to the Imperfections of his Son, he would have soon
perceived that he was sowing all his Instructions in a Soil so choaked with
Self-Conceit, that it was utterly impossible they should ever bear any Fruit.
 

                                     Book X

                                   Chapter I

                      To which we will prefix no Preface.

The Doctor found Amelia alone, for Booth was gone to walk with his new revived
Acquaintance, Captain Trent, who seemed so pleased with the Renewal of his
Intercourse with his old Brother Officer, that he had been almost continually
with him from the Time of their meeting at the Drum.
    Amelia acquainted the Doctor with the Purport of her Message, as follows: »I
ask your Pardon, my dear Sir, for troubling you so often with my Affairs; but I
know your extreme Readiness as well as Ability to assist any one with your
Advice. The Fact is, that my Husband hath been presented by Colonel James with
two Tickets for a Masquerade, which is to be in a Day or two; and he insists so
strongly on my going with him, that I really do not know how to refuse, without
giving him some Reason; and I am not able to invent any other than the true one,
which you would not, I am sure, advise me to communicate to him. Indeed I had a
most narrow Escape the other Day; for I was almost drawn in inadvertently, by a
very strange Accident, to acquaint him with the whole Matter.« She then related
the Serjeant's Dream, with all the Consequences that attended it.
    The Doctor considered a little with himself, and then said, »I am really,
Child,