rcumstances had favored her in this
matter, for neither the old man nor his sons could read or write, and
they had begun to find this, in their changed position, and in the
rapid growth of general information, a serious drawback in business
matters.

Therefore, as Davie could not be spared in the day, the schoolmaster
agreed for a few shillings a quarter to teach him in the evening. This
arrangement altered the lad's whole life. He soon mastered the simple
branches he had been sent to acquire, and then master and pupil far
outstepped old Christopher's programme, and in the long snowy nights,
and in the balmy summer ones, pored with glowing cheeks over old
histories and wonderful lives of great soldiers and sailors.

In fact, David Denton, like most good sons, had a great deal of his
mother in him, and she had been the daughter of a long line of brave
Westmoreland troopers. The inherited tendencies which had passed over
the elder boys asserted themselves with threefold force in this last
child of a dying woman. And among the sheepcotes in the hills he felt
that he was the son of the men who had defied Cromwell on the banks of
the Kent and followed Prince Charlie to Preston.

But the stern discipline of a Cumberland states-man's family is not
easily broken. Long after David had made up his mind to be a soldier
he continued to bear the cuffs and sneers and drudgery that fell to
him, watching eagerly for some opportunity of securing his father's
permission. But of this there was little hope. His knowledge of
writing and accounts had become of service, and his wish to go into
the world and desert the great cause of the Denton economies was an
unheard-of piece of treason and ingratitude.

David ventured to say that he "had taught Jennie to write and count,
and she was willing to do his work."

The ignorant, loutish brothers scorned the idea of "women-folk
meddling wi' their 'counts and wool," and, "besides," as Matt argued,
"Davie's going would necessitate the hiring of two shepherds; no hired
man would do more than half of what folk did for their ain."

These disputes grew more frequent and more angry, and when Davie had
added to all his other faults the unpardonable one of falling in love
with the schoolmaster's niece, there was felt to be no hope for the
lad. The Dentons had no poor relations; they regarded them as the one
thing _not_ needful, and they concluded it was better to give Davie a
commission and send him