120

DEATH S DOINGS.

twice a day if labouring under the slightest symp-toms of indisposition; and, frequently, when theboys, on a half-holyday, were at cricket on thecommon, a servant would ride over from the Pavi-lion, to see whether Tom had cast his jacket; or,if the air happened to be chilly, whether his neckwere encompassed with one of the numerousbandanas her ladyship had sent for that purposein his trunk. Tom was not devoid of ability, butDoctor Bumpem was ordered not to overstrainhis mind; for being a delicate boy, an only child,and the heir to a large fortune, learning was quitea secondary concern; health was every thing, andto secure that all other considerations were toyield. Tom was, nevertheless, a mild, good-na-tured, friendly boy; and, although he was fre-quently laughed at, as much on account of hismother's weaknesses as his own, yet, he was uni-versally liked. But, as he did little in the way ofclassical literature, he quitted Bumpem's with thecharacter of being a good-natured, idle, soft-headed boy; whom the doctor said it would beuseless to send to Eton or to Harrow; and,therefore, in order to fit him for Oxford, in