aching those
boys and girls of the town, who indicated the possession of anything
like talent. The overseers used to talk jestingly to my father, of the
Doctor teaching ploughboys Greek and Latin; and wenches, whose chief
employment was stone-picking in the fields, geography and the use of the
globes. Even the churchwardens shook their heads, and privately thought
the Rector a little out of his seven senses, for wasting his learning
upon such unprofitable scholars. Nevertheless, he continued his
self-imposed task, without meeting any reward beyond the satisfaction of
his own conscience. It was not till he added to his pupils myself and
young Reichardt, he felt he was doing his duty with some prospect of
advantage.

"The spirit of emulation roused both of us to make extraordinary efforts
to second our worthy master's endeavours: and this did not, as is
usually the case, proceed from rivalry--it arose entirely from a desire
of the one to stand well in the estimation of the other. In this way we
learned the French and Latin languages, geography, and the usual
branches of a superior education: but our bias was more particularly for
religions knowledge, and our preceptor encouraged this, till we were
almost as good theologians as himself.

"While this information was being carefully arranged and digested, there
sprung up in our hearts so deep a devotion for each other, that we were
miserable when absent, and enjoyed no gratification so much as being in
each other's society. We knew not then the full power and meaning of
this preference, but as we changed from boy and girlhood to adult life,
our feelings developed themselves into that attachment between the
sexes, which from time immemorial has received the name of love."

"I think I know what that means, now," said I, as my day-dream, which
was so rudely disturbed by my fall into the sea, occurred to me.

"It would be strange if you did," she replied, "considering that it is
quite impossible you should have become acquainted with it."

"Yes, I am certain I understand it very well," I rejoined, more
confidently, and then added, not without some embarrassment, "If I were
placed in the position of Heinrich Reichardt, I am quite sure I should
feel towards any young female who was so kind to me, the deepest regard
and affection. I should like to be constantly near her, and should
always desire that she should like me better than any one else."

"That is quite as good