eased than he
appears to be at present."

Dermot scarcely understood all that was said, for though he spoke
English very fairly, he could not comprehend the language when spoken
rapidly.

Breakfast being concluded, he was again summoned to the hall, and to his
utter astonishment he was made to stand with the fish in his hand, while
the young lady continued her sketch. As a reward she exhibited it to
him when it was finished. He blushed when he saw himself, for she was
no mean artist, and she had done him ample justice. Indeed he looked
far more like the Earl's son, dressed in a fisher-boy's costume, than
what he really was.

"Could my mother see that picture?" he asked at length, "I am sure she
would like it, she knows more about those things than I do, for I have
never seen anything of that sort before."

"What! Have you never seen a picture before?" exclaimed the young lady
in surprise, "nor a print, nor a painting?"

Dermot shook his head--"No, nothing of the sort. I did not think that
anything so like life could be put on paper."

"Cannot you read?" asked the lady.

"No," said Dermot, "I have no book. The priest can read, but there are
few people else in this part of the country who can do so."

"Oh! you must be taught to read, then," exclaimed the young lady. "It
is a pity that you should be so ignorant. Would you not like to learn?"

"Yes!" said the boy, looking up, "and to draw such figures as that. I
should like to learn to place you on paper. You would make a far more
beautiful picture than that is."

The young lady smiled at the boy's unsophisticated compliment. "Well,
if you will come to the castle, I will try to teach you to read at all
events," she answered. "I should like such a pupil, for I am sure you
would learn rapidly."

"And I must help you, Lady Sophy," said the little girl, who had been
the first to draw attention to Dermot. "I am sure I should teach him to
read very quickly, should I not, little fisher-boy? You would like to
learn of me, would you not?"

"Indeed I would," answered Dermot, looking at her with an expression of
gratitude. "You are very gentle and kind, but I would not learn of
those who try to force me."

"When will you begin?" asked Lady Sophy.

"To-morrow. I long to gain the art you speak of," answered the boy
eagerly. "The priest tells me many things I have not known. Perhaps I
shall be able to tell him some things he does not know."

"So you