y. But I do not think any one should begin in a
circulating library to study a book that will take him a year to
finish; for, from what you say, it will take this gentleman at least
that time to finish Dormstock's book." So she went her way.

When P. Glascow heard all this in the evening, he was very grave. He
had evidently been reflecting.

"It is not fair," said he. "I ought not to keep the book so long. I
now give it up for a while. You may let her have it when she comes."
And he put the "Dormstock" on the counter, and went and sat down by the
stove.

Mr. Tolman was grieved. He knew the night druggist had done right, but
still he was sorry for him. "What will you do?" he asked. "Will you
stop your studies?"

"Oh, no," said Glascow, gazing solemnly into the stove. "I will take
up some other books on the diapason which I have, and so will keep my
ideas fresh on the subject until this lady is done with the book. I do
not really believe she will study it very long." Then he added: "If
it is all the same to you, I will come around here and read, as I have
been doing, until you shall get a regular assistant."

Mr. Tolman would be delighted to have him come, he said. He had
entirely given up the idea of getting an assistant, but this he did not
say.

It was some time before the lady came back, and Mr. Tolman was afraid
she was not coming at all. But she did come, and asked for Mrs.
Burney's "Evelina." She smiled when she named the book, and said that
she believed she would have to take a novel, after all, and she had
always wanted to read that one.

"I wouldn't take a novel if I were you," said Mr. Tolman; and he
triumphantly took down the "Dormstock" and laid it before her.

She was evidently much pleased, but when he told her of Mr. Glascow's
gentlemanly conduct in the matter, her countenance instantly changed.

"Not at all," said she, laying down the book. "I will not break up his
study. I will take the `Evelina' if you please."

And as no persuasion from Mr. Tolman had any effect upon her, she went
away with Mrs. Burney's novel in her muff.

"Now, then," said Mr. Tolman to Glascow, in the evening, "you may as
well take the book along with you. She won't have it."

But Glascow would do nothing of the kind. "No," he remarked, as he sat
looking into the stove. "When I said I would let her have it, I meant
it. She'll take it when she sees that it continues to remain in the
library."

Gl