The butler made his appearance at this last summons, and he was followed by Mesty, who looked like a demon with anger.

“Mercy on me, whom have we here?”

“My servant, father,” exclaimed Jack, starting up; “one that I can trust to, and who will obey me. Mesty, I wish some supper and wine to be brought immediately — see that scoundrel gets it ready in a moment. If he does not, throw him out of the door, and lock him out. You understand me.”

“Yes, massa,” grinned Mesty; “now you hab supper very quick, or Mesty know the reason why. Follow me, sar,” cried Mesty, in an imperative tone to the butler; “quick, sar, or by de holy poker, I show you what Mesty can do;” and Mesty grinned in his wrath.

“Bring supper and wine immediately,” said Mr. Easy, giving an order such as the butler had never heard since he had been in the house.

The butler quitted the room, followed by the Ashantee.

“My dear boy— my Jack— I can make every allowance for hunger, it is often the cause of theft and crime in the present unnatural state of society— but really you are too violent. The principles— ”

“Your principles are all confounded nonsense, father,” cried Jack in a rage.

“What, Jack!— my son— what do I hear ? This from you— nonsense! Why, Jack, what has Captain Wilson been doing with you?”

“Bringing me to my senses, sir.”

“Oh dear, oh dear! my dear Jack, you will certainly make me lose mine.”

“Gone already,” thought Jack.

“That you, my child, so carefully brought up in the great and glorious school of philosophy, should behave this way— should be so violent— forget your sublime philosophy, and all— just like Esau, selling your birthright for a mess of pottage. Oh, Jack, you’ll kill me! and yet I love you, Jack— whom else have I to love in this world? Never mind, we’ll argue the point, my boy— I’ll convince you— in a week all will be right again.”

“It shall, sir, if I can manage it,” replied Jack.

“That’s right, I love to hear you say so— that’s consoling, very consoling— but I think now, I was wrong to let you go to sea, Jack.”

“Indeed you were not, father.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you say so; I thought they had ruined you, destroyed all your philosophy— but it will be all right again— you shall come to our societies, Jack— I am president— you shall hear me speak, Jack — you shall hear me thunder like Demosthenes— but here comes the tray.”

The butler, followed by Mesty, who attended him as if he was his prisoner, now made his appearance with the tray, laid it down in a sulky manner and retired. Jack desired Mesty to remain.

“Well, Mesty, how are they getting on in the servants’ hall?”

“Regular mutiny, sar— ab swear dat they no stand our nonsense, and dat we both leave the house to- morrow.”