With a deliberate movement Emerson resumed his seat, and slowly his eyes roamed over the boy sitting at the side of the desk.

He felt he should say something.
"I thought, perhaps, Mr.Emerson," he said, "that you might be able to favor me with a letter from Carlyle." At the mention of the name Carlyle his eyes lifted, and he asked: "Carlyle, did you say, sir, Carlyle ?" "Yes," said the boy, "Thomas Carlyle." "Ye-es," Emerson answered slowly.

"To be sure, Carlyle.

Yes, he was here this morning.

He will be here again to-morrow morning," he added gleefully, almost like a child.
Then suddenly: "You were saying----" Edward repeated his request.
"Oh, I think so, I think so," said Emerson, to the boy's astonishment.
"Let me see.