At the end of the three years I had the whole by heart; you had only to repeat the first two or three words of any sentence in any part of the book, and forthwith I would open cry, commencing without blundering and hesitation, and continue till you were glad to beg me to leave off, with many expressions of admiration at my proficiency in the Latin language.

Sometimes, however, to convince you how well I merited these encomiums, I would follow you to the bottom of the stair, and even into the street, repeating in a kind of sing-song measure the sonorous lines of the golden schoolmaster.

If I am here asked whether I understood anything of what I had got by heart, I reply--'Never mind, I understand it all now, and believe that no one ever yet got Lilly's Latin grammar by heart when young, who repented of the feat at a mature age.' And, when my father saw that I had accomplished my task, he opened his mouth, and said, 'Truly, this is more than I expected.

I did not think that there had been so much in you, either of application or capacity; you have now learnt all that is necessary, if my friend Dr.B---'s opinion was sterling, as I have no doubt it was.

You are still a child, however, and must yet go to school, in order that you may be kept out of evil company.