160 Turnaside Cottage.

 

taught the two things that he could teach, music
and dancing. I remained with my mother, learning
of her, helping her, and loving her.”

My master paused ; he seemed always inclined
to break off when he touched on his mother. “ But
you went to school, sir?” I said, willing to set him
off again.

“Yes, thanks to the liberality of Dr. Hamerton,
head master of the grammar-school at which my
father gave dancing lessons. He called to pay a
quarter that was due, and chanced to come in when
my mother was ironing our linen, and at the same
time hearing my Latin lesson. Struck with her
industry, and with the way in which she had worked
me on in spite of household toils, the doctor offered
to give me a free education at the grammar-school ;
which offer, though my father disliked it as laying
him under an obligation which he could never repay,
was thankfully accepted ; and for several years I
worked my way up the grammar-school, until I
reached the doctor’s own class,”

“And did you,” said I—“used you, sir, to play
hockey, and so on, with the boys in play-hours ?”

My master looked round at me, and a smile
crossed his face. “ Ah, he was never too fond of
such pastimes himself,” he said. “No; my spare
time was all too short for the help that my mother