sapient sages who were ready to investigate their professional acquirements.

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Ned Nipper lived at number ten. That was his "place," and a queer place it was. He tenanted a pair of parlorsfront and back; the former having a splendid view of the house opposite; the latter looking out upon a small yard about the size of a comfortable pig-sty, the stones of which were always wet and a perpetual clacking of pattens was ever to be heard going over them from morning to night, whilst a constant steam was continually issuing from the little washhouse door, accompanied by a strong smell of soap-suds. The reason is clear-Ned Nipper's landlady, Mrs. Suddle, was a laundress, and it was a necessary step in the getting up of linen that these proceedings took place. This was a great annoyance; but Ned got over the difficulty by never paying his rent till he was obliged, and constantly giving notice to leave; and as Mrs. Suddle, in common with landladies in general, was very asthmatic and, moreover, had varicose veins in her legs, Ned Nipper took out sundry inconvenient arrears of rent by the appliance of bandages and the exhibition of liquorice powder and gum arabic in the form of a six-ounce mixture to quiet the wheezing." Still, Ned knew better than to disperse the unpleasant symptoms altogether, for it was only by the wheezing that he could tell when his landlady was "about" -a piece of information occasionally involving important consequences, more particularly when Ned was engaged in the private dissection of certain specimens of morbid anatomy which he had been enabled to crib in making post-mortems, and bring home in his handkerchief. As this was a piece of brutal cannibalism in the eyes of the worthy Mrs. Suddle, against which she had taken a most determined stand, Ned was obliged to play his cards carefully in this respect, and hence the convenience of Mrs. Suddle's asthma. But this was not the only thing that disconcerted Ned Nipper's landlady. He had repeatedly requested the favour of being permitted to perform some of the minor operations of surgery on the person of Mrs. Suddle's favourite tom-cat-a proceeding to which she gave a most decided negative; and she never went out to take a "friendly cup o' tea" with a neighbouring washerwoman, but she returned with some dreadful foreboding lest her favourite should have become the subject of scientific research, and she scarcely knew whether to expect to find his head where his tail should be--both his eyes couched for

cataract all his legs put up into splints-or some otherdreadful catastrophe too horrible to mention. But even this was not all; for among other pieces of furniture which Ned added to his parlor was a smart little thoroughbred bull-terrier, which he always kept under the sofa in a hamper turned on one side. In Mrs, Suddle's absence, Ned was wont to interfere with the peace of the landlady's cat by setting his dog after her and fastening the door; so that, on coming home, the landlady was always "put out" on finding Puss in such a state of nervous excitement that he would never come out from under the dresser, but continually answer all kind enquiries by spitting and growling, and refusing most positively to partake of his usual supper. Mrs. Suddle had repeatedly threatened to "do for " Ned's dog, and there is no doubt she would, if she had not been afraid of it-not being disposed to allow the animal to operate upon her varicose veins, which, upon a word from Ned, he would have done sans ceremonie.

But to return to Ned Nipper's parlors. From the general aspect of these apartments, and the mixed character of their contents, a speculative beholder might have been troubled to decide to what class of mortals their occupant belonged. On the table stood a pewter pot with the occiput of a skull placed on the top of it to keep the flies out; whilst at the top of a very shabby little bookshelf crammed with volumes of all sorts and sizes, were placed two other crania-one with a short pipe stuck in its mouth, the bowl of which was turned downwards, whilst the other was deprived of its skull-cap, and was merely a collection of bony features having the expression of a ghastly grin upon them. Over the mantelpiece were suspended several meerschaum pipes and a flute, and the walls were hung round with various anatomical plates and drawings, some of which had been executed by Ned Nipper himself.

The furniture was of a quaint pattern, of what particular date it would be impossible to say, for the worthy Mrs. Suddle had evidently an eye to the utile as well as the dulce, in which, perhaps, the former predominated over the latter; for the bookcase, besides containing the volumes mentioned, had drawers at the bottom with old-fashioned brass handles which always rattled a good deal on being pulled out. Besides the ordinary complement of cane-bottomed chairs and a little mahogany loo-table, was an ancient sofa-one of those venerable specimens of antiquity so frequently to be met with in the apartments of medical students. It was of imitation rosewood

-the cushion composed principally of hay, which you might tell by the peculiar sensation experienced on sitting down on it,--was covered by dark blue moreen (watered) with vallance to match. We have so far entered into detail touching the sofa, inasmuch as it was under this article of furniture that Ned Nipper's favourite little terrier was deposited in a hamperfull of straw. Hidden by the vallance aforesaid, strangers were occasionally not a little disconcerted at the appearance of the savage-looking little beast, on a given signal from Ned, who was very fond of producing a little consternation amongst his friends occasionally, by way of alternating with the monotony of good fellowship.

The generally received opinions concerning medical students will, perhaps, induce the reader to be somewhat astonished that one evening, Ned Nipper-always a youth of most buoyant spirits-was in a most despondent state of mind. What could be the reason? Had he been "plucked?" No; for though always "going up," he never went. Had he received a long letter, trebly crossed, from his lady-love, telling him that the dream was all over-that the spell was broken-that he must try to think that they had never met-that in future they had better only stand on the footing of friends, in which capacity she would always be happy to see him? No. Had he a bill to meet? No-worse! He had to face a most importunate debtor, who would be put off no longer! Ichabod Prim, a sedate Quaker, at whose house Ned Nipper had lodged for many months prior to his joining the standard of the worthy Mrs. Suddle, and who had received no consideration for the convenience in the shape of rent, had determined to take proceedings for the same without further notice; and having been informed that Ned would certainly have a remittance from the country, and that the long-standing account would be paid in full, he was that evening to wait upon his debtor for a final settlement. What was to be done? It was useless to be "out," for that move had been practised so many times that the peaceful intentions of the sedate Ichabod were bestirred to wrath; and what was more, he had discovered the whereabouts of Ned's father, to whom he vowed he would apply, and as the money had been received and spent long since, the discovery would involve Ned in family jars which would be unpleasant.

There are few positions in life more forcibly calling into action the display of whatever philosophy we possess than that

ate.

of extensive liability without the prospect of means to liquidThe knowledge that you are at the mercy of people whose station in life is infinitely below yourself, who are as destitute of feeling as they are of manners-people who would dun you with savage delight if they found you on the arm even of your very governor-the knowledge that you must bend the knee of submission to a tailor who can barely write his own name, or bow with reverence to some knight of the awl who threatens you in such wretched spelling that, but for an intuitive knowledge of the purport of such a communication, you could make no kind of guess as to its purport,-to a mind of some lofty pretension these grovelling matters fill the mind with disgust at human nature generally, and the faulty constitution of society in particular.

It was some such train of thought as this that pervaded the mind of Ned Nipper, as he became painfully aware of the fact that the punctual Ichabod would be there to receive the sum of six pound fifteen-bill delivered. Ned dived into his pocket in despair-but only to disturb the repose of sixpennyworth of halfpence, which was all the cash he had.

The sudden arrival of a friend and fellow-student, in whom Ned could repose confidence, was unction to the saddened soul of our hero; and in a few moments Ned had related the circumstances of his distressing case.

"But what's to be done?" enquired Ned; "the old broadbrim knows where the governor lives, and if he writes down home he'll make a mess of it! You remember when I had that party, Tom, about a month ago when Jack Ginger was fined five shillings the next morning? Well, that was when I had the money."

"Well, my dear fellow, then I suppose you're hard up?" said Tom; "I'm sorry for that, for I wanted to borrow a pound. Never mind! how much have you got?"

Ned smiled somewhat sorrowfully as he penetrated his pocket, and pulling out some halfpence, displayed them in the palm of his hand, adding slowly,

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Sixpence, by the Lord Harry-in coppers!"

"So much the better," added Tom, "put a bunch of keys to them, and they'll do very well to make a noise with-you mustn't let him think you have no tin at all, or he'll be down upon you. You've got some spirits in the house, Ned?" "Yes; but the rascal's a Quaker!

"Never mind that-human nature's frail; it's precious cold

to-night, and it's very hard if we can't get him to take a nip anyhow!

The important conference was soon closed by a single knock at the door, which was speedily followed by the entrance of a very tall, demure-looking man, dressed in the sombre garments of that extraordinary denomination of Christian men called Quakers.

This sedate individual, whom the reader may probably recognise as Mr. Ichabod Prim, seemed to exhibit in appearance a very fair specimen of the sect. His face was thin and long; his cheekbones, although prominent, appeared more so, by reason of the sunken state of Ichabod's eyeballs,-small squinny eyes being deposited at the bottom of his bony orbits. But though Prim's eyes were small, they were not devoid of a certain quizzical expression of jocularity, which appeared somewhat incompatible with the otherwise puritanical expression of Ichabod's countenance. His hair was cut short, and his visage was wanting in anything approaching the outward adornment of whisker.

On entering the parlor, the Quaker made a profound obeisance to the two friends.

"Good even to thee, friend Nipper," said Mr. Ichabod Prim, seating himself on the nearest chair, and inverting his broad-brimmed hat between his knees. "Perchance thou art engaged? In that case I will wait without for a season. The delays of business are occasionally unavoidable."

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Nothing of the kind, Mr. Prim," said Ned-"I couldn't allow it. This gentleman is a friend of mine (the Quaker and Tom bowed to one another) who is aware of the object of your visit."

As he concluded this sentence, Ned walked to the cupboard, and soon produced a small pint decanter of whiskey, and one of some other spirit, and some wine-glasses. While Tom was filling the glasses, Ned searched the recesses of his writingdesk, and soon produced some papers, which the vigilant eye of Mr. Prim was not long in pronouncing to be his own bills. Rubbing his hands, apparently in consequence of the cold, but really by reason of the exceeding joyfulness he felt at the prospect of a speedy settlement of account, the sagacious Quaker felt his soul warm within him.

"You'll take a glass of something, Prim?" enquired Ned, handing a glass of whiskey.

"I thank thee kindly, friend Nipper," replied the Quaker