One can hardly believe that it should have been to the schoolmaster the first revelation of the fact that a practical interest is the strongest incitement to a theoretical acquaintance.

But such was the case.

He answered after a moment's pause-- "I suspect, ma'am, on the contrary, that the boat, of which I had heard nothing till now, was Alec's private tutor in the passage of Virgil to which I have referred." "I don't understand you, Mr Malison." "I mean, ma'am, that his interest in his boat made him take an interest in those lines about ships and their rigging.

So the boat taught him to translate them." "I see, I see." "And that makes me doubt, ma'am, whether we shall be able to make him learn anything to good purpose that he does not take an interest in." "Well, what _do_ you think he is fit for, Mr Malison?
I should like him to be able to be something else than a farmer, whatever he may settle down to at last." Mrs Forbes thought, whether wisely or not, that as long as she was able to manage the farm, Alec might as well be otherwise employed.

And she had ambition for her son as well.