"I do not heed it, Sarah," replied I; (but I did mind it very much)
"there is no disgrace."

"None whatever, I grant; but a want of ambition, which I cannot
understand. However, let us say no more about it."

Mrs Drummond came into the room and greeted me kindly. "When can you
come and dine with us, Jacob? Will you come on Wednesday?"

"Oh, mamma! He can't come on Wednesday; we have company on that day."

"So we have, my dear; I had forgotten it; but on Thursday we are quite
alone: will you come, then on Thursday, Jacob?"

I hesitated, for I felt that it was because I was a waterman that I was
not admitted to the table where I had been accustomed to dine at one
time, whoever might be invited.

"Yes, Jacob," said Sarah, coming to me, "it must be Thursday, and you
must not deny us; for although we have greater people on Wednesday, the
party that day will not be so agreeable to me as your company on
Thursday."

The last compliment from Sarah decided me, and I accepted the
invitation. Mr Drummond came in, and I delivered to him Mr Turnbull's
cheque. He was very kind, but said little further than that he was glad
that I had promised to dine with them on Thursday. The footman came in
and announced the carriage at the door, and this was a signal for me to
take my leave. Sarah, as she shook hands with me, laughing, asserted
that it was not considerate in them to detain me any longer, as I must
have lost half-a-dozen good fares already; "So go down to your boat,
pull off your jacket, and make up for lost time," continued she; "one of
these days mamma and I intend to go on the water, just to patronise
you." I laughed and went away, but I was cruelly mortified. I could
not be equal to them, because I was a waterman. The sarcasm of Sarah
was not lost upon me; still there was so much kindness mixed with it
that I could not be angry with her. On the Thursday I went there, as
agreed; they were quite alone; friendly and attentive; but still there
was a degree of constraint which communicated itself to me. After
dinner Mr Drummond said very little; there was no renewal of offers to
take me into his employ, nor any inquiry as to how I got on in the
profession which I had chosen. On the whole, I found myself
uncomfortable, and was glad to leave early, nor did I feel at all
inclined to renew my visit. I ought to remark that Mr Drummond was now
moving in a very different sphere than when I first knew him. He was