My Master’s Story. 161
needed in her many occupations. And if that had
not been so, it may be that I should not have
cared—lI stood apart from the other boys, who all
knew that my parents could not pay for the educa-
tion I received, and, as boys will, they looked down
upon me in consequence. I did not heed it ; learn-
ing, and the approval of my teachers, was what I
cared for ; companionship I found at home in my
mother.”

“And in your sister, sir?” said 1; for I wanted
him to speak more of her.

“My sister had companions of her own, and was
often out with them or my father; she loved ex-
citement, even as he did. No; I saw but little of
my sister at that time. The days of our field
rambles were over; she liked the streets best now,
and I liked them not. And we were very different
—she handsome, sprightly, courted ; and I—well, I
never was very different to what lam now. I was
absorbed, too, in my own interests at that time. At
the time I am speaking of—I mean, when I was
seventeen, and she about two years older—there
was a scholarship to be competed for, and several
of the grammar-school boys intended to try for it,
and I among the number. If I could gain that
scholarship, it would go far towards supporting me
at college. I would support myself there somchow

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