Henry, as he retired, looked alternately at Fitzstephen and his father. The former seemed raised almost to madness, and was labouring with a volcano of rage which O'Hara's caution barely kept from bursting. That his father and Fitzstephen were concerned in some unpleasant affair was obvious, from the demeanour of both; that they were not quarrelling themselves was also plain, from the warm, though hurried greeting which had passed before him. The business must be consequential, for neither would suffer a light concern to disturb their usual tranquillity. It was almost time for him to return to the examination hall; to leave the house in such uncertainty was intolerable; and while he debated whether he should go to his father, and demand some elucidation of the morning's transaction, his valet placed a scroll in his hand and retired. It was Lord Edward's writing

"Dear Henry-Go to your examinationmake your mind easy; at dinner you shall be made acquainted with the business you wish to know. Adieu. Victory attend you. Cæsar, aut nullus'. Fitz."

• Aut

This was Lord Edward's usual style to his favourite, and the note relieved his uncertainty. He accordingly hurried to the College; his appearance bespeaking mental ease and confidence. He observed the groups he passed loitering before the hall, eyed him with peculiar attention. The Orange party looked with something like triumph; his own friends mightily cast down. "What," thought he, "do they flatter themselves that Loftus will carry the prize off. Well, I trust I shall lower your exulting looks before long. How dull the others seem-some one has frightened them; but here's one of the gayest with a face like a mute at a funeral. Why, M'Donnell, what's the matter?-cheer up, man-you see I'm not cast down by the morning's business."

“Well, certainly Harry, you're a bold fellow but how is your father?"

"Better, better-I left Lord Edward with him: but hark! the bell rings for victory."

All crowded into the hall; and the brilliant answering of the afternoon possessed O'Hara of both premiums.

Rage and disappointment stung Loftus to

the soul; the decision, his heart told him, was as it should be, but he had not temper to bear defeat with equanimity; with an infernal sneer, he snatched a newspaper from a fellow-student, and exclaimed, as he handed it over the table to his rival, "Really your honours will be quite a set-off against the mall mishap of your father and his loyal confederate."

M'Donnell snatched the extended paper, and Henry overheard, in a suppressed tone, the words" Ungenerous-unfeeling.”

The morning scene flashed on his recollection; he demanded the

refused it.

newspaper. M'Donnell "M'Donnell, by our friendship, I request it: you would not surely trifle with me. It must be some pleasant communication that Mr. Loftus would trouble himself to select;" and he bitterly eyed his pale and discomfited opponent. He threw his eye on the paragraph -it ran thus-" It mus tbe a source of sincere congratulation to every loyal and well-disposed subject to know, that his Majesty is determined to remove from the Army List, the names of every favourer of Jacobites, Revolutionists, and Rebels. Two names of political notoriety,

for systematic opposition to the Government, will be found in this day's Gazette; and as the simple sentence, announcing their disgrace, speaks more than pages, we refer our readers to the next column." O'Hara's cheeks blazed as he rapidly ran his eyes over the paper; his sight grew dim, his brain burned as he read— "His Majesty has been pleased to direct that the names of Major Frederic O'Hara, on the retired list, and Lord Edward Fitzstephen, on the half-pay of the 19th regiment, be erased from the Army List, for disaffection; and that these Officers be declared incapable of ever holding any commission in his Majesty's service.” As Henry read, every eye was turned on him. Loftus gazed with malicious delight; while O'Hara crumpled the paper coolly in his hand, and flung it in his face. "You mean scoundrel -miserable in mind as in figure-if your wretchedness did not shield you from my resentment, this hall should not save you. As to the alleged disgrace thrown on my father and his noble friend, they despise it; they would feel degraded in serving an ill-advised King and a corrupt administration."

The noise and confusion arrested the attention of the Vice-Provost, who walked over to the table where Henry was declaiming, and who, although fully aware of the Doctor's political animosity, continued to abuse the Government with more warmth than discretion, and, in consequence, was summoned to attend the Board the following day.

The disclosure of the severe and unmerited disgrace cast upon his father and Lord Edward overwhelmed Henry with sorrow as he hurried home. The Ex-Major was astonishingly composed since morning, and endeavoured to soften the insult offered to an old and meritorious Officer. Not so Lord Edward; his feelings were vented in reproaches and threats, and the most uncomfortable day ever recollected by the parties, was heavily dragged through. The morning dawned to consummate the disgrace of the O'Haras. Henry was tried by the Board of Trinity College for sedition; found guilty of abusing the Government; condemned, and sentenced "tanquam pestis, e Collegio in perpetuo amoveri !"

Thus terminated his literary career. The