me so far
west as this, at least not to settle. We have a few pioneers and
squatters in the villages; but, I am sorry to say, nothing yet
like matches between the elevens of districts. Neighbors we have
none, except the rector; so I have plenty of spare time, some of
which I feel greatly disposed to devote to you; and I hope you
won't find me too tedious to read.

"It is very kind of your father to wish that you should be my
first pupil, and to propose that I should spend the last month of
this vacation with you in Berkshire. But I do not like to give up
a whole month. My father is getting old and infirm, and I can see
that it would be a great trial to him, although he urges it, and
is always telling me not to let him keep me at home. What do you
say to meeting me half way? I mean, that you should come here for
half of the time, and then that I should return with you for the
last fortnight of the vacation. This I could manage perfectly.

"But you cannot in any case be my first pupil; for not to mention
that I have been, as you know, teaching for some years, I have a
pupil here, at this minute. You are not likely to guess who it
is, though you know him well enough--perhaps I should say too
well--so, in a word, it is Blake. I had not been at home three
days before I got a letter from him, asking me to take him, and
putting it in such a way that I couldn't refuse. I would sooner
not have had him, as I had already got out of taking a reading
party with some trouble, and felt inclined to enjoy myself here
in dignified idleness till next term. But what can you do when a
man puts it to you as a great personal favor, &c. &c.? So I wrote
to accept. You may imagine my disgust a day or two afterwards, at
getting a letter from an uncle of his, some official person in
London apparently, treating the whole matter in a _business_
point of view, and me as if I were a training groom. He is good
enough to suggest a stimulant to me in the shape of extra pay and
his future patronage in the event of his nephew's taking a first
in Michaelmas term. If I had received this letter before, I think
it would have turned the scale, and I should have refused. But
the thing was done, and Blake isn't fairly responsible for his
relative's views.

"So here he has been for a fortnight. He took a lodging in the
village at first; but of course my dear old father's ideas of
hospitality were shocked at this, and here he is, our inmate.

"He reads fierc