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Life and adventures of an unfortunate author, by himself
Life and adventures of an unfortunate author by himself Author:Life Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: slowly been conjuring up a terrible tempest; and, while black and threatening clouds were gathering over my head, while the lightning began to flash and the thun... more »der to roll in the distance, I was putting the last hand to my work with that stoical calmness which befits a true philosopher. Suddenly the storm burst over me with the greatest violence. CHAPTER VI. One morning I was summoned before the Master of Trinity College. As it was not for the first time, I was not astonished at it. He received me with a dismal shake of the head, and asked me to sit down. Then he made me a long pathetic speech, beginning with some sad remarks upon my irregular attendance at lectures and chapel. For the lectures he would allow some excuse, as he knew I was a very hard worker, and an exemplary young man in every other respect; but my absence from chapel could not be- treated so leniently: for a student, who was going into the Church, my conduct was particularly grievous. Then he reminded me of all those of my ancestors who had distinguished themselves as great theologians and models of piety, and drew a not very flattering comparison between their holy zeal and my thorough indifference. And finally, in a most touching peroration, he indulged in the hope that I would openly express my regret and present henceforth the example of a truly religious life. To all this discourse I listened with calm attention, wondering how many more weeks it would take me to finish my Essay, if I had to attend lectures and chapelregularly. When the Master had come to the end of his speech, I gave him to understand how deeply I regretted having compelled the head of my college to perform a painful duty in summoning me before him, and how unhappy I felt to have grieved a man who was an old friend of my family;...« less