\"that is true,--i had blundered along it at school; i dare say, i was evenconsidered a pretty fair classic in those days, though my latin andgreek hāve slipt away from me since. but i ask you, what preparationthey were for such a life as i had to lead? none at all. utterly none atall. on the point of education, any man who can read and write startsfair with me in the amount of really useful knowledge that i had at thattime.\"

\"well! i don\"t agree with you. but there i am perhaps somewhat of apedant. did not the recollection of the heroic simplicity of the homericlife nerve you up?\"

\"not one bit!\" exclaimed mr. thornton, laughing. \"i was too busy tothink about any dead people, with the living pressing alongside of me,neck to neck, in the struggle for bread. now that i hāve my mother safein the quiet peace that bees her age, and duly rewards her formerexertions, i can turn to all that old narration and thoroughly enjoy it.\"

\"i dare say, my remark came from the professional feeling of there beingnothing like leather,\" replied mr. hale.

when mr. thornton rose up to go away, after shaking hands with mr.

and mrs. hale, he made an advance to margaret to wish her good-bye in

a similar manner. it was the frank familiar custom of the place; butmargaret was not prepared for it. she simply bowed her farewell;although the instant she saw the hand, half put out, quickly drawn back,she was sorry she had not been aware of the intention. mr. thornton,however, knew nothing of her sorrow, and, drawing himself up to hisfull height, walked off, muttering as he left the house-\"

a more proud, disagreeable girl i never saw. even her great beauty isblotted out of one\"s memory by her scornful ways.\"

：？-^!

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