independence."

The attentive audience which had gathered around the professor separated
when he had finished the story. Some of them went aloft, to look over
the dikes, and with their eyes followed the long lines of ditches and
canals which extended into the interior.

In the mean time, Mr. Hamblin walked the deck very uneasily, waiting for
an opportunity to discuss his position with the principal. The studies
of the classes were to be resumed on the following day, and he was
anxious to know what disposition was to be made of him. The ship was
already provided with an excellent instructor in Greek and Latin; and
only in the department of mathematics was there a vacancy, made by the
transfer of Mr. Fluxion. It would be impossible for Mr. Hamblin to teach
anything but Greek and Latin, though he had had some experience in the
other branches.

Mr. Lowington seemed to be provokingly indifferent on the subject, and
the professor was at last compelled to ask an interview, which, however,
his dignity compelled him to defer till the ship was approaching
Flushing, when the steamer was to leave her. The principal understood
the character of the learned gentleman very well, and knew that any
manifestation of anxiety on his own part would so inflate the vanity of
the professor that he could do nothing with him; but he granted the
interview when it was demanded.

"Mr. Lowington, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done,"
said the _savant_, when they were alone in the main cabin. "I find that
Mr. Fluxion has been transferred to the place I filled on the Josephine.
As you are aware, I was employed to teach Latin and Greek."

"I am aware of it," replied the principal, still appearing to be
singularly indifferent in such a momentous crisis, as it seemed to Mr.
Hamblin.

"I presume Mr. Fluxion is competent to teach the classics."

"Entirely competent. He was assigned, in the beginning, to the
department of navigation, on account of his knowledge of practical
seamanship. I don't know that he has any superior as a teacher of the
classics."

Mr. Hamblin did not like this answer. The principal had no business to
think that any one was _his_ equal in the department of Greek and Latin,
especially the former. Mr. Fluxion had never written a Greek Grammar,
compiled a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis. The remark of the
principal was very injudicious.

"Having been displaced from my position in the consort, I am rather
d