It came early in the spring, after our work had proceeded for about nine months.
I really had made good progress all round.

Not in Latin only, but in Greek grammar, arithmetic, and English, and was naturally inclined to feel a little cocky of the result.
"Don't crow, Jones," she said; "you've a lot to do yet." But I did not altogether agree with her, and was inclined to indulge myself a little of an evening when I was supposed to be preparing my work.

In an evil day I fell across an old book-shop, and found two books, which helped to undo me.

One was a rollicking story of a pirate who swept the Western Main, and captured treasure, and seized youths and maidens, and ran blockades, and was finally brought to book in a sportsmanlike manner by a jolly young English middy, amid scenes of terrific slaughter amidships.

That was one purchase.