e sham aristocrats that put on most
airs. I believe you will make somebody, Walton. You have lost no
time in getting to work."

"I have no time to lose. I wish I was in Oscar's place. He is
preparing for Harvard, and has nothing to do but to learn."

"I heard a lecturer once who said that the printing office is the
poor man's college, and he gave a great many instances of printers
who had risen high in the world, particularly in our own country."

"Well, that is encouraging. I should like to have heard the lecture."

"I begin to think, Harry, that I should have done well to follow your
example. When I was in your position, I might have studied too, but
I didn't realize the importance as I do now. I read some useful
books, to be sure, but that isn't like studying."

"It isn't too late now."

Ferguson shook his head.

"Now I have a wife and children," he said. "I am away from them
during the day, and the evening I like to pass socially with them."

"Perhaps you would like to be divorced," said his wife, smiling.
"Then you would get time for study."

"I doubt if that would make me as happy, Hannah. I am not ready to
part with you just yet. But our young friend here is not quite old
enough to be married, and there is nothing to prevent his pursuing
his studies. So, Harry, go on, and prepare yourself for your
editorial duties."

Harry smiled thoughtfully. For the first time he had formed definite
plans for his future. Why should not Ferguson's plans be realized?

"If I live long enough," he said to himself, "I will be an editor,
and exert some influence in the world."

At ten o'clock he bade good-night to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, feeling
that he had passed a pleasant and what might prove a profitable
evening.

CHAPTER VIII.

FLETCHER'S VIEWS ON SOCIAL POSITION.

"You are getting on finely, Harry," said Oscar Vincent, a fortnight
later. "You do credit to my teaching. As you have been over all the
regular verbs now, I will give you a lesson in translating."

"I shall find that interesting," said Harry, with satisfaction.

"Here is a French Reader," said Oscar, taking one down from the
shelves. "It has a dictionary at the end. I won't give you a
lesson. You may take as much as you have time for, and at the same
time three or four of the irregular verbs. You are going about three
times as fast as I did when I commenced French."

"Perhaps I have a better teacher than you had," said H