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thankful that they had been half suffocated by their cloaks, which had been used to blindfold

them up.

at least they now served to them

wrap

Small evils make the worst part of great ones: it is so much easier to endure misfortune than to bear an inconvenience. Captain Franklin, half frozen on the Arctic shores, would not grumble one tithe so much as an elderly gentleman sitting in a draught.

CHAPTER III.

"But our hero, as might be supposed, soon began to feel dissatisfied with this obscure celebrity, and to look out for opportunities of accomplishing a more extended fame." SYDENHAM.

GENIUS has many misfortunes to encounter; but the worst that can befall it, is when it happens to be universal. When a whole world is before it from which to choose, it is rather difficult to decide. This had been the case with Giulio Castelli. His mother was a dancer at the Neapolitan Opera; his father—but truly that was an honour which, like the crown of Belgium, no one seemed very ready to accept. The first ten years of his life were passed in enacting interesting orphans or Cupids; but, alas! he grew out of the theatrical costume and the age of Love. His mamma died; his uncle adopted him, and insisted on bringing him up in an honest way-which meant, cheat

ing his customers for macaroni as much as possible.

Young Giulio soon made macaroni as well as his uncle, and then felt he had a soul superior to his situation. He settled his accounts summarily―that is to say, he took as many ducats as he could find, and joined a company of strolling comedians. If his musical talents had equalled his others, his fortune had been made; but he had a voice and ear that might have been English. He was next valet to an English nobleman, who lived in his carriage: he was cook to a cardinal, on the profits of whose kitchen he travelled for a while at his own expense. He went to Paris as an artist, who took likenesses in rose-coloured wax; and was successful to a degree as hair-dresser in London, He soon was what seemed wealthy to an Italian. As he grew rich, he grew sentimentalthought of grapes and sunshine-his first loveand his old uncle.

He returned to Naples-found Serafina had married-grown fat, and had had seven children. His uncle was dead, and had left his property to a convent to say masses that his nephew might turn from his evil ways. Giulio felt idle and stupid-gambled and lost his last pistole-had

recourse to his wits and his old opinion, that it was a person's own fault if he was poor while others were rich.

There was some philosophy in this; but, like most other doctrines when reduced to practice, it was carried too far. His principles endangered his person; and the futurity of the galleys was a disagreeable perspective.

One day Lady Mandeville and Emily drove into Naples. The gaily embroidered curtains of their vehicle blew aside, and the two ladies, muffled in fur mantles, were distinctly visible.

It is curious how little we speculate on what may be the impression we produce on othersunless, indeed, vanity comes into play, and then there is no bound to the speculation. Still, the general feeling is utter indifference. Take an example from London life. Some fair dame "in silk attire" folds her cloak round her if very cold half buries her face in her boa-and drives the usual morning round, without one thought given to the crowd through which she passes; and yet how many different sensations have followed the track of that carriage! admiration, envy, even hate. Some youth has loitered on his busy way to take another gaze at a being whose beauty and grace are of another

Some young

order than his working world. pedestrian of her own sex has cast a glance of envy at the bonnet of which a glimpse is just caught through the window; and, as envy is ever connected with repining, turns regretfully to pursue a walk rendered distasteful by comparison. Then hate-that hate with which the miserably poor look on others' enjoying, what he sees, but shares not, and pursues the toil that binds him to the soil, fiercely and bitterly saying, Why have I no part in the good things of earth?" Still less did Lady Mandeville and Emily, as they drove through the streets of Naples, dreary as is the aspect of a southern metropolis in the winter, — still less did they think of the hopes, the enterprise, and the daring, their appearance excited in the breast of one individual.

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Giulio had for some time past been connected with some gentlemen who quite differed with Solomon about the advantages of a dry morsel and quietness, rather preferring Wordsworth's view of the case

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That they should take who have the power,

And they should keep who can.'

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