Page:Modern literature (1804 Volume 2).djvu/330

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misses of the boarding-school such books and pictures as he was in the habit of collecting and vending; and for which the seminary in question afforded a sure and rapid sale. The story, it seems, had been hushed, and Blackball having been paid for secrecy, and also afraid if he published any thing on the subject, it might interfere with his custom, had adhered to taciturnity. On hearing the village mentioned, calling the circumstance to mind, he said, that he thought it would be no very difficult matter to confound the two schools, and attach the report in question to Miss Mortimer.—"Suppose, please your ladyship, we were to revive that story by a few smart paragraphs in the newspapers?" "How would you manage to introduce so old a story?" "Oh very easily!" said the other; "give it first as new, then acknowledge the mistake, and attack the