what was to become of
me. I had left India with the intention of being sent to a school in
England, for the purpose of being educated for one of the colleges
devoted to aspirants for India. After my long residence among the
Caffres, where I had learned nothing of what in England is termed
education, but had added years to my age, I knew how very awkward I
should feel in going to a school where probably I might be the biggest
boy in the school, but where the smallest boy would know considerably
more than I knew. I, however, trusted my uncle would consider all these
questions, and I had not long to wait before I found that my trust was
justified.

On the third night after my arrival my uncle after dinner said:--

"I have been thinking, Julius, what is best to be done about your
education. You are peculiarly situated: you are in age and appearance
quite a young man, and I have discovered that you are very observant and
have sound common sense; but you know nothing of those things which are
esteemed in the world, such as mathematics, accounts, Latin, French, and
other matters. I don't think it would be pleasant for you to go to a
school and mix with other boys, who would be so much younger than you
are, but who know so much more. I have decided therefore to secure a
private tutor, who will come to this house each morning and work with
you till half-past-four. You will, if you are in earnest, progress much
more rapidly by this means, and I wish to know when you would like to
begin to work."

"At once," I replied. "I had thought exactly the same about going to
school, and should certainly have been ashamed of myself for knowing so
little."

"It is no fault of yours," replied my uncle. "You know more of some
things than many men learn during the whole of their lives; for whilst
others have been acquiring a knowledge of Greek, Latin, and mathematics,
you have learned how to think for yourself and to reason on what you
see. It is rare to find a youngster like you as much a philosopher as
you are, and all your life you will derive a great advantage from
knowing how to do things for yourself."

My life now became one of routine; the tutor who came was a
comparatively young man, but was a very able teacher. We were more like
companions than master and pupil, and when in our leisure hours I had
told him of my past life, he took great interest in me.

My uncle had a dinner-party about once a week, to which he invit