they hear of your
reading?"

"Oh, there are no secrets in a small village like this," said
Fletcher.

"It's certainly a great compliment. Has anybody else been invited to
read?"

"I think not," said Fletcher, proudly. "They rely upon me."

"Couldn't you get a chance for me? It would be quite an honor, and I
should like it for the sake of the family."

"I shouldn't feel at liberty to interfere with their arrangements,"
said Fletcher, who didn't wish to share the glory with any one.
"Besides, you don't read well enough."

"Well, I suppose I must give it up," said Oscar, in a tone of
resignation. "By the way, what have you decided to read?"

"I haven't quite made up my mind," said Fletcher, in a tone of
importance. "I have only just received the invitation, you know."

"Haven't you answered it yet?"

"No; but I shall as soon as I go home. Good-night, Oscar."

"Good-night, Fitz."

"How mad Fitz will be when he finds he has been sold!" said Oscar to
himself. "But he deserves it for treating Harry so meanly."

CHAPTER XXIV.

READING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

On reaching home, Fletcher looked over his "Speaker," and selected
three poems which he thought he could read with best effect. The
selection made, he sat down to his desk, and wrote a reply to the
invitation, as follows:--

"MISS PAULINE CLINTON: I hasten to acknowledge your polite invitation
to occupy twenty minutes in reading choice selections at your
approaching Fair. I have paid much attention to reading, and hope to
be able to give pleasure to the large numbers who will doubtless
honor the occasion with their presence. I have selected three
poems,--Poe's Raven, the Battle of Ivry, by Macaulay, and Marco
Bozarris, by Halleck. I shall be much pleased if my humble efforts
add _eclat_ to the occasion.

"Yours, very respectfully,
"FITZGERALD FLETCHER."

"There," said Fletcher, reading his letter through with satisfaction.
"I think that will do. It is high-toned and dignified, and shows
that I am highly cultured and refined. I will copy it off, and mail
it."

Fletcher saw his letter deposited in the post-office, and returned to
his room.

"I ought to practise reading these poems, so as to do it up
handsomely," he said. "I suppose I shall get a good notice in the
'Gazette.' If I do, I will buy a dozen papers, and send to my
friends. They will see that I am a person of consequence in
Centreville, even if I didn't get e