188 Turnaside Cottage.

 

“And Latin and Greek, too, sir,” said I, won-
dering whether I had better offer to be examined
by them in these subjects.

“Eh, what ? that’s serious!” exclaimed the gen-
tleman of the horse. “I doubt whether you will
do for us.”

I stared blankly at this reception of an announce-
ment which I had thought would please them as
much as it did me.

“What made you spend your time in that sort of
learning ?” asked the Squire.

“I wanted to learn everything I could,” I
replied ; “and I thought it would make me the
fitter for my duties. I can teach English all the
better for knowing Latin and Greek.”

The gentlemen made no direct answer to this,
but began describing my duties, dwelling, I thought,
especially on the drudgery, as though they feared
that I should be unwilling to go through it. I
answered as re-assuringly as I could—promised the
parson that I would follow the time-table, not
neglect singing and drill, and diligently work up
the lower standards ; assured the Squire that I was
fond of gardening, and would keep the bit of ground
round the cottage neat and pretty. It was all of
no use ; I could see that the tide was going against
me. I wished I had held my tongue about the