is what I have to work for. Whether this end well or not, she is the
leading star of my life.' And, with the renewal of spirit with which
he had spoken, he pressed his aunt's hand, and ran down stairs.

When he rode to Northwold, the following afternoon, having spent the
morning in walking over his fields, he overtook a most comfortable
couple--James and Isabel, returning from their holiday stroll, and
Louis, leaving his horse at the inn, and joining them, began to hear
all their school affairs. James had thrown his whole heart into his
work, had been making various reforms, introducing new studies,
making a point of religious instruction, and meditating on a course
of lectures on history, to be given in the evenings, the attendance
to be voluntary, but a prize held out for proficiency. Louis took up
the subject eagerly, and Isabel entered into the discussion with all
her soul, and the grammar-school did indeed seem to be in a way to
become something very superior in tone to anything Northwold had
formerly seen, engrossing as it did all the powers of a man of such
ability, in the full vigour of youth.

Talking earnestly, the trio had reached the Terrace, and James was
unlatching the iron gate, when he interrupted himself in the midst of
detailing his views on modern languages to say, 'No, I have nothing
for you.'

'Sir, I beg your pardon!' was the quick reply from a withered, small,
but not ill-dressed old man, 'I only asked--'

'Let the lady pass,' said James, peremptorily, wishing to save his
wife from annoyance, 'it is of no use, I never look at petitions.'