entering the study, he found John standing ready to receive him. "Well,
John, what answer am I to give to Mr. Laurie?" asked Mr. Martin, "will you
be his servant and my scholar, or have you any objection to the plan?
Speak out, and don't be afraid. If you dislike being a herd-boy, I will
endeavour to think of something else, that may suit you better." "Thank
you, Sir, from my heart; I did intend only to say, yes, I will be Mr.
Laurie's herd-boy; but since you ask me if I have any objection, I will
tell you, Sir, all that has passed in my mind. I have been thinking how
lonely it will be up in the hills all day, and how cold and dreary I shall
feel when the winter comes on; but just as I had determined to tell you, I
would rather not be Mr. Laurie's servant, I remembered my poor father, and
how proud he would be, if he knew that you would teach me to read
yourself. That thought put all about the hill quite out of my head; and,
therefore, if you please, I will go to Mr. Laurie's whenever he wishes
it." "That is acting like a good and sensible boy," said Mr. Martin, "and
I hope you will have no reason to repent of your decision. I shall go now
and call on Mr. Laurie, and make an agreement for your coming to me in the
evening; and I think you had best come along with me and hear what he
wishes you to do." John went for his bonnet directly, and walked after Mr.
Martin, keeping near enough to speak to him, but still far enough behind,
to show his respect. "Sir," said John, as he walked along, "do you think
Mr. Laurie will give me a holiday on Handsel Monday?" (the first Monday in
the year, and the only holiday the Scottish peasantry ever allow
themselves, except, perhaps, in the case of a wedding). "Really, John,
that is a question I cannot answer; but if he does, how would you like to
employ it?" "The thing I should like best to do would be to take another
walk with you and Miss Helen. Oh, indeed, Sir, I never was so happy in my
life as I was yesterday; and besides, somehow it seems to have done me a
great deal of good, for I felt so miserable and unhappy from the time I
lost my father and mother, that I had no heart to do any thing; and it