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She retired； and Hugh joined Hairy。
Euphra had another glass of claret with her uncle that evening； in
order to give her report of the morning's ride。
〃Really； there is not much to be afraid of； uncle。 He takes very
good care of Harry。 To be sure； I had occasion several times to
check him a little； but he has this good quality in addition to a
considerable aptitude for teaching； that he perceives a hint； and
takes it at once。〃
Knowing her uncle's formality； and preference for precise and
judicial modes of expression； Euphra modelled her phrase to his
mind。
〃I am glad he has your good opinion so far； Euphra； for I confess
there is something about the youth that pleases me。 I was afraid at
first that I might be annoyed by his overstepping the true
boundaries of his position in my family： he seems to have been in
good society； too。 But your assurance that he can take a hint；
lessens my apprehension considerably。 To…morrow； I will ask him to
resume his seat after dessert。〃
This was not exactly the object of Euphra's qualified commendation
of Hugh。 But she could not help it now。
〃I think； however； if you approve； uncle； that it will be more
prudent to keep a little watch over the riding for a while。 I
confess； too； I should be glad of a little more of that exercise
than I have had for some time： I found my seat not very secure
to…day。〃
〃Very desirable on both considerations； my love。〃
And so the conference ended。
CHAPTER VIII。
NEST…BUILDING。
If you will have a tree bear more fruit than it hath used to do； it
is not anything you can do to the boughs； but it is the stirring of
the earth； and putting new mould about the roots； that must work it。
LORD BACON'S Advancement of Learning； b。 ii。
In a short time Harry's health was so much improved； and
consequently the strength and activity of his mind so much
increased； that Hugh began to give him more exact mental operations
to perform。 But as if he had been a reader of Lord Bacon； which as
yet he was not； and had learned from him that 〃wonder is the seed of
knowledge；〃 he came； by a kind of sympathetic instinct； to the same
conclusion practically； in the case of Harry。 He tried to wake a
question in him； by showing him something that would rouse his
interest。 The reply to this question might be the whole rudiments
of a science。
Things themselves should lead to the science of them。 If things are
not interesting in themselves； how can any amount of knowledge about
them be？ To be sure； there is such a thing as a purely or
abstractly intellectual interestthe pleasure of the mere operation
of the intellect upon the signs of things； but this must spring from
a highly exercised intellectual condition； and is not to be expected
before the pleasures of intellectual motion have been experienced
through the employment of its means for other ends。 Whether this is
a higher condition or not； is open to much disquisition。
One day Hugh was purposely engaged in taking the altitude of the
highest turret of the house； with an old quadrant he had found in
the library； when Harry came up。
〃What are you doing； big brother？〃 said he； for now that he was
quite at home with Hugh； there was a wonderful mixture of
familiarity and respect in him； that was quite bewitching。
〃Finding out how high your house is； little brother；〃 answered Hugh。
〃How can you do it with that thing？ Will it measure the height of
other things besides the house？〃
〃Yes； the height of a mountain； or anything you like。〃
〃Do show me how。〃
Hugh showed him as much of it as he could。
〃But I don't understand it。〃
〃Oh！ that is quite another thing。 To do that； you must learn a
great many thingsEuclid to begin with。〃
That very afternoon Harry began Euclid； and soon found quite enough
of interest on the road to the quadrant； to prevent him from feeling
any tediousness in its length。
Of an afternoon Hugh had taken to reading Shakspere to Harry。
Euphra was always a listener。 On one occasion Harry said：
〃I am so sorry； Mr。 Sutherland； but I don't understand the half of
it。 Sometimes when Euphra and you are laughing；and sometimes when
Euphra is crying；〃 added he； looking at her slyly； 〃I can't
understand what it is all about。 Am I so very stupid； Mr。
Sutherland？〃 And he almost cried himself。
〃Not a bit of it； Harry； my boy； only you must learn a great many
other things first。〃
〃How can I learn them？ I am willing to learn anything。 I don't
find it tire me now as it used。〃
〃There are many things necessary to understand Shakspere that I
cannot teach you； and that some people never learn。 Most of them
will come of themselves。 But of one thing you may be sure； Harry；
that if you learn anything； whatever it be； you are so far nearer to
understanding Shakspere。〃
The same afternoon； when Harry had waked from his siesta； upon which
Hugh still insisted； they went out for a walk in the fields。 The
sun was half way down the sky； but very hot and sultry。
〃I wish we had our cave of straw to creep into now；〃 said Harry。 〃I
felt exactly like the little field…mouse you read to me about in
Burns's poems； when we went in that morning； and found it all torn
up； and half of it carried away。 We have no place to go to now for
a peculiar own place； and the consequence is； you have not told me
any stories about the Romans for a whole week。〃
〃Well； Harry； is there any way of making another？〃
〃There's no more straw lying about that I know of；〃 answered Harry；
〃and it won't do to pull the inside out of a rick； I am afraid。〃
〃But don't you think it would be pleasant to have a change now； and
as we have lived underground； or say in the snow like the North
people； try living in the air； like some of the South people？〃
〃Delightful！〃 cried Harry。〃A balloon？〃
〃No； not quite that。 Don't you think a nest would do？〃
〃Up in a tree？〃
〃Yes。〃
Harry darted off for a run； as the only means of expressing his
delight。 When he came back； he said：
〃When shall we begin； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃We will go and look for a place at once； but I am not quite sure
when we shall begin yet。 I shall find out to…night； though。〃
They left the fields； and went into the woods in the neighbourhood
of the house； at the back。 Here the trees had grown to a great
size； some of them being very old indeed。 They soon fixed upon a
grotesque old oak as a proper tree in which to build their nest； and
Harry； who； as well as Hugh； had a good deal of constructiveness in
his nature； was so delighted； that the heat seemed to have no more
influence upon him； and Hugh； fearful of the reaction； was compelled
to restrain his gambols。
Pursuing their way through the dark warp of the wood； with its
golden weft of crossing sunbeams； Hugh began to tell Harry the story
of the killing of C鎠ar by Brutus and the rest； filling up the
account with portions from Shakspere。 Fortunately； he was able to
give the orations of Brutus and Antony in full。 Harry was in
ecstasy over the eloquence of the two men。
〃Well； what language do you think they spoke； Harry？〃 said Hugh。
〃Why；〃 said Harry； hesitating； 〃I suppose〃 then； as if a sudden
light broke upon him〃Latin of course。 How strange！〃
〃Why strange？〃
〃That such men should talk such a dry； unpleasant language。〃
〃I allow it is a difficult language； Harry； and very ponderous and
mechanical； but not necessarily dry or unpleasant。 The Romans； you
know； were particularly fond of law in everything； and so they made
a great many laws for their language； or rather； it grew so； because
they were of that sort。 It was like their swords and armour
generally； not very graceful； but very strong；like their
architecture too； Harry。 Nobody can ever understand what a people
is； without knowing its language。 It is not only that we find all
these stories about them in their language； but the language itself
is more like them than anything else can be。 Besides； Harry； I
don't believe you know anything about Latin yet。〃
〃I know all the declensions and conjugations。〃
〃But don't you think it must have been a very different thing to
hear it spoken？〃
〃Yes； to be sureand by such men。 But how ever could they speak
it？〃
〃They spoke it just as you do English。 It was as natural to them。
But you cannot say you know anything about it； till you read what
they wrote in it； till your ears delight in the sound of their
poetry；〃
〃Poetry？〃
〃Yes； and beautiful letters； and wise lessons； and histories and
plays。〃
〃Oh！ I should like you to teach me。 Will it be as hard to learn
always as it is now？〃
〃Certainly not。 I am sure you will like it。〃
〃When will you begin me？〃
〃To…morrow。 And if you get on pretty well； we will begin our nest；
too； in the afternoon。〃
〃Oh； how kind you are！ I will try very hard。〃
〃I am sure you will； Harry。〃
Next morning； accordingly； Hugh did begin him； after a fashion of
his own； namely； by giving him a short simple story to read； finding
out all the words with him in the dictionary； and telling him what
the terminations of the words signified； for he found that he had
already forgotten a very great deal o