"Eh!" said the scholar, "through his nose? I never knew that?--and I--"

"And you are trying to speak without lungs; that is without air in them.
You don't smoke, I presume?"

"No; certainly not."

"You must learn; speak between each slow puff of your pipe. All you want
is time,--time to quiet the nerves, time to think, time to breathe. The
moment you begin to stammer, stop, fill the lungs thus, then try again!
It is only a clever man who can learn to write,--that is, to compose; but
any fool can be taught to speak. Courage!"

"If you really can teach me," cried the learned man, forgetting all self-
reproach for his betrayal of Waife to Mrs. Crane in the absorbing
interest of the hope that sprang up within him, "if you can teach me; if
I can but con-con-con--conq--"

"Slowly, slowly, breath and time; take a whiff from my pipe; that's
right. Yes, you can conquer the impediment."

"Then I will be the best friend to you that man ever had. There's my
hand on it."

"I take it, but I ask leave to change the parties in the contract. I
don't want a friend: I don't deserve one. You'll be a friend to my
little girl instead; and if ever I ask you to help me in aught for her
welfare and happiness--"

"I will help, heart and soul! slight indeed any service to her or to you