THE TWO APPRENTICES. 47

rious gossips of the place, Mrs. Morley and Mrs.
Proctor, that Mr. Isaacs had a liking for Miss
Joanna Kendrick. The report had even reached
the ears of the parties themselves ; but they seemed
so amazingly indifferent about it, that people left
them to do as they would, only just speaking of it
now and then to keep the idea alive, as a town
corporation walks its parish boundaries every seven
years or so, to keep their memory from dying out.

** And how does William get on,” asked Miss
Kendrick, therefore, one Sunday evening, figm
Mr. Isaacs, on whose arm she leaned.

“Pretty well,” said he, in a half-hesitating tone.

“* Only pretty well, still!” she returned.

“Why, you see,” said Isaacs, “he has not the
natural facility of mind that Williams has. That
youth has something quite uncommon about him—if
he had but stability he might do anything. They
now take regular Latin lessons, and that prevents his
attending to many other things. Latin is abso-
lutely necessary, and they neither of them under-
3tood a word of it.”

‘* What, then,’ began Joanna, somewhat cheered,
“had this clever youth been as much neglected as
our poor nephew ?”

“* He has knowledge enough, and to spare,” said
Isaacs, “but not exactly of the right kind; he is
prodigiously smart and clever, and knows hew to
make the most of what he has. If he have but
stability and good conduct, he may get on won-
derfully.”

These words sunk deep into the hearts of both
aunts. How was it? Was Williams above the
average capacity of youths, or was their nephew