did not murder Socrates."

"I'm not bound to defend democracies. But look at my pins. It may
be the natural fondness of a parent, but I declare they seem to
me to have a great deal of character, considering the material.
You'll guess them at once, I'm sure, if you mark the color and
shape of the wax. This one now, for instance, who is he?"

"Alcibiades," answered Tom, doubtfully.

"Alcibiades!" shouted Hardy; "you fresh from Rugby, and not know
your Thucydides better than that? There's Alcibiades, that little
purple-headed, foppish pin, by Socrates. This rusty-colored one
is that respectable old stick-in-the-mud, Nicias."

"Well, but you've made Alcibiades nearly the smallest of the
whole lot," said Tom.

"So he was, to my mind," said Hardy; "just the sort of insolent
young ruffian whom I should have liked to buy at my price, and
sell at his own. He must have been very like some of our
gentlemen-commoners, with the addition of brains."

"I should really think, though," said Tom, "It must be a capital
plan for making you remember the history."

"It is, I flatter myself. I've long had the idea, but I should
never have worked it out and found the value of it but for Grey.
I invented it to coach him in his history. You see we are in the
Grecian corner. Over there is the Roman. You'll find Livy and
Tacitus worked out there, just as Herodotus and Thucydides are
here; and the pins are stuck for the Second Punic War, where we
are just now. I shouldn't wonder if Grey got his first, after
all, he's picking up so quick in my corners; and says he never
forgets any set of events when he has picked them out with the
pins."

"Is he working at that school still?" asked Tom.

"Yes, as hard as ever. He didn't go down for the vacation, and I
really believe it was because the curate told him the school
would go wrong if he went away."

"It's very plucky of him, but I do think he's a great fool not to
knock it off now till he has passed, don't you?"

"No," said Hardy; "he is getting more good there than he can ever
get in the schools, though I hope he'll do well in them too."

"Well, I hope so; for he deserves it. And now, Hardy, to change
the subject, I am going to give my first wine next Thursday; and
here's the first card which, has gone out for it. You'll promise
me to come now, won't you?"

"What a hurry you're in." said Hardy, taking the card which he
put on his mantel-piece, after examining it.

"But you'll promis