east
as other boys study, and great application would be requisite to bring
his attainments to a level with those of far less clever boys educated
at a public school.

Mr. Lascelles told him so at first; but as there were no reflections on
his grandfather, or on Mr. Potts, Guy's lip did not suffer, and he
only asked how many hours a day he ought to read. 'Three,' said
Mr. Lascelles, with a due regard to a probable want of habits of
application; but then, remembering how much was undone, he added, that
'it ought to be four or more, if possible.'

'Four it _shall_ be,' said Guy; 'five if I can.'

His whole strength of will was set to accomplish these four hours,
taking them before and after breakfast, working hard all the morning
till the last hour before luncheon, when he came to read the lectures on
poetry with Charles. Here, for the first time, it appeared that Charles
had so entirely ceased to consider him as company, as to domineer over
him like his own family.

Used as Guy had been to an active out-of-doors life, and now turned
back to authors he had read long ago, to fight his way through the
construction of their language, not excusing himself one jot of the
difficulty, nor turning aside from one mountain over which his own
efforts could carry him, he found his work as tough and tedious as he
could wish or fear, and by the end of the morning was thoroughly fagged.
Then would have been the refreshing time for recreation in that pleasant
idling-place, the Hollywell drawing-room. Any other time of day would
have suited Charles as well for the reading, but he liked to take the
hour at noon, and never perceived that this made all the difference to
his friend of a toil or a pleasure. Now and then Guy gave tremendous
yawns; and once when Charles told him he was very stupid, proposed a
different time; but as Charles objected, he yielded as submissively as
the rest of the household were accustomed to do.

To watch Guy was one of Charles's chief amusements, and he rejoiced
greatly in the prospect of hearing his history of his first
dinner-party. Mr., Mrs. and Miss Edmonstone, and Sir Guy Morville, were
invited to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Brownlow. Mr. Edmonstone was delighted
as usual with any opportunity of seeing his neighbours; Guy looked as
if he did not know whether he liked the notion or not; Laura told him it
would be very absurd and stupid, but there would be some good music, and
Charles ordered her to say no mo