tand, and I will explain it to you when--when next I happen to
be passing."

Grindley junior took the book--_Bell's Introduction to the Study of the
Classics_, _for Use of Beginners_--and held it between both hands. Its
price was ninepence, but Grindley junior appeared to regard it as a
volume of great value.

"It will be hard work at first," Miss Appleyard warned him; "but you must
persevere. I have taken an interest in you; you must try not to
disappoint me."

And Miss Appleyard, feeling all the sensations of a Hypatia, departed,
taking light with her and forgetting to pay for the telegram. Miss
Appleyard belonged to the class that young ladies who pride themselves on
being tiresomely ignorant and foolish sneer at as "blue-stockings"; that
is to say, possessing brains, she had felt the necessity of using them.
Solomon Appleyard, widower, a sensible old gentleman, prospering in the
printing business, and seeing no necessity for a woman regarding herself
as nothing but a doll, a somewhat uninteresting plaything the newness
once worn off, thankfully encouraged her. Miss Appleyard had returned
from Girton wise in many things, but not in knowledge of the world, which
knowledge, too early acquired, does not always make for good in young man
or woman. A serious little virgin, Miss Appleyard's ambition was to help
the human race. What more useful work could have come to her hand than
the raising of this poor but intelligent young grocer's assistant unto
the knowledge and the love of higher things. That Grindley junior
happened to be an exceedingly good-looking and charming young grocer's
assistant had nothing to do with the matter, so Miss Appleyard would have
informed you. In her own reasoning she was convinced that her interest
in him would have been the same had he been the least attractive of his
sex. That there could be danger in such relationship never occurred to
her.

Miss Appleyard, a convinced Radical, could not conceive the possibility
of a grocer's assistant regarding the daughter of a well-to-do printer in
any other light than that of a graciously condescending patron. That
there could be danger to herself! you would have been sorry you had
suggested the idea. The expression of lofty scorn would have made you
feel yourself contemptible.

Miss Appleyard's judgment of mankind was justified; no more promising
pupil could have been selected. It was really marvellous the progress
made by Grindley jun