n would have been, for
there were but few flower-beds, and no lawn at all to speak about; but,
instead, terraces and balustrades and vases and flights of stone steps
more in the Italian style; and there were jets-d'eau, and little
fountains that could be set playing by turning water-cocks that were
hidden here and there. How Clement delighted in turning the water on to
surprise Urian, and how gracefully he did the honours, as it were, to my
dear, rough, sailor lad! Urian was as dark as a gipsy boy, and cared
little for his appearance, and resisted all my efforts at setting off his
black eyes and tangled curls; but Clement, without ever showing that he
thought about himself and his dress, was always dainty and elegant, even
though his clothes were sometimes but threadbare. He used to be dressed
in a kind of hunter's green suit, open at the neck and half-way down the
chest to beautiful old lace frills; his long golden curls fell behind
just like a girl's, and his hair in front was cut over his straight dark
eyebrows in a line almost as straight. Urian learnt more of a
gentleman's carefulness and propriety of appearance from that lad in two
months than he had done in years from all my lectures. I recollect one
day, when the two boys were in full romp--and, my window being open, I
could hear them perfectly--and Urian was daring Clement to some
scrambling or climbing, which Clement refused to undertake, but in a
hesitating way, as though he longed to do it if some reason had not stood
in the way; and at times, Urian, who was hasty and thoughtless, poor
fellow, told Clement that he was afraid. 'Fear!' said the French boy,
drawing himself up; 'you do not know what you say. If you will be here
at six to-morrow morning, when it is only just light, I will take that
starling's nest on the top of yonder chimney.' 'But why not now,
Clement?' said Urian, putting his arm round Clement's neck. 'Why then,
and not now, just when we are in the humour for it?' 'Because we De
Crequys are poor, and my mother cannot afford me another suit of clothes
this year, and yonder stone carving is all jagged, and would tear my coat
and breeches. Now, to-morrow morning I could go up with nothing on but
an old shirt.'

"'But you would tear your legs.'

"'My race do not care for pain,' said the boy, drawing himself from
Urian's arm, and walking a few steps away, with a becoming pride and
reserve; for he was hurt at being spoken to as if he wer