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had anything disagreeable to do since you came； and I don't feel as
if that was right。〃
Poor Harry； like so many thousands of good people； had not yet
learned that God is not a hard task…master。
〃I don't intend that you should have anything disagreeable to do； if
I can help it。 We must do such things when they come to us； but we
must not make them for ourselves； or for each other。〃
〃Then I'm not to learn any more Latin； am I？〃 said Harry； in a
doubtful kind of tone； as if there were after all a little pleasure
in doing what he did not like。
〃Is Latin so disagreeable； Harry？〃
〃Yes； it is rule after rule； that has nothing in it I care for。 How
can anybody care for Latin？ But I am quite ready to begin； if I am
only a seedreally； you know。〃
〃Not yet； Harry。 Indeed； we shall not begin againI won't let
youtill you ask me with your whole heart； to let you learn Latin。〃
〃I am afraid that will be a long time； and Euphra will not like it。〃
〃I will talk to her about it。 But perhaps it will not be so long as
you think。 Now； don't mention Latin to me again； till you are ready
to ask me； heartily； to teach you。 And don't give yourself any
trouble about it either。 You never can make yourself like
anything。〃
Harry was silent。 They returned to the house； through the pouring
rain； Harry； as usual； mounted on his big brother。
As they crossed the hall； Mr。 Arnold came in。 He looked surprised
and annoyed。 Hugh set Harry down； who ran upstairs to get dressed
for dinner； while he himself half…stopped； and turned towards Mr。
Arnold。 But Mr。 Arnold did not speak； and so Hugh followed Harry。
Hugh spent all that evening； after Harry had gone to bed； in
correcting his impressions of some of the chief stories of early
Roman history； of which stories he intended commencing a little
course to Harry the next day。
Meantime there was very little intercourse between Hugh and Euphra；
whose surname； somehow or other； Hugh had never inquired after。 He
disliked asking questions about people to an uncommon degree； and so
preferred waiting for a natural revelation。 Her later behaviour had
repelled him； impressing him with the notion that she was proud； and
that she had made up her mind； notwithstanding her apparent
frankness at first； to keep him at a distance。 That she was fitful；
too； and incapable of showing much tenderness even to poor Harry； he
had already concluded in his private judgment…hall。 Nor could he
doubt that； whether from wrong theories； incapacity； or culpable
indifference； she must have taken very bad measures indeed with her
young pupil。
The next day resembled the two former； with this difference； that
the rain fell in torrents。 Seated in their strawy bower； they cared
for no rain。 They were safe from the whole world； and all the
tempers of nature。
Then Hugh told Harry about the slow beginnings and the mighty birth
of the great Roman people。 He told him tales of their battles and
conquests； their strifes at home； and their wars abroad。 He told
him stories of their grand men； great with the individuality of
their nation and their own。 He told him their characters； their
peculiar opinions and grounds of action； and the results of their
various schemes for their various ends。 He told him about their
love to their country； about their poetry and their religion； their
courage； and their hardihood； their architecture； their clothes； and
their armour； their customs and their laws； but all in such
language； or mostly in such language； as one boy might use in
telling another of the same age； for Hugh possessed the gift of a
general simplicity of thought； one of the most valuable a man can
have。 It cost him a good deal of labour （well…repaid in itself； not
to speak of the evident delight of Harry）； to make himself perfectly
competent for this； but he had a good foundation of knowledge to
work upon。
This went on for a long time after the period to which I am now more
immediately confined。 Every time they stopped to rest from their
rambles or gamesas often； in fact； as they sat down alone； Harry's
constant request was：
〃Now； Mr。 Sutherland； mightn't we have something more about the
Romans？〃
And Mr。 Sutherland gave him something more。 But all this time he
never uttered the wordLatin。
CHAPTER V。
LARCH AND OTHER HUNTING。
For there is neither buske nor hay
In May； that it n'ill shrouded bene；
And it with new？leav閟 wrene；
These wood閟 eke recoveren grene；
That drie in winter ben to sene；
And the erth waxeth proud withall；
For swot？dewes that on it fall；
And the poore estate forget；
In which that winter had it set：
And than becomes the ground so proude；
That it wol have a new？shroude；
And maketh so queint his robe and faire；
That it hath hewes an hundred paire；
Of grasse and floures； of Ind and Pers；
And many hew閟 full divers：
That is the robe I mean； ywis；
Through which the ground to praisen is。
CHAUCER'S translation of the Romaunt of the Rose。
So passed the three days of rain。 After breakfast the following
morning； Hugh went to find Harry； according to custom； in the
library。 He was reading。
〃What are you reading； Harry？〃 asked he。
〃A poem；〃 said Harry； and； rising as before； he brought the book to
Hugh。 It was Mrs。 Hemans's Poems。
〃You are fond of poetry； Harry。〃
〃Yes； very。〃
〃Whose poems do you like best？〃
〃Mrs。 Hemans's； of course。 Don't you think she is the best； sir？〃
〃She writes very beautiful verses； Harry。 Which poem are you
reading now？〃
〃Oh！ one of my favouritesThe Voice of Spring。〃
〃Who taught you to like Mrs。 Hemans？〃
〃Euphra； of course。〃
〃Will you read the poem to me？〃
Harry began； and read the poem through； with much taste and evident
enjoyment； an enjoyment which seemed； however； to spring more from
the music of the thought and its embodiment in sound； than from
sympathy with the forms of nature called up thereby。 This was shown
by his mode of reading； in which the music was everything； and the
sense little or nothing。 When he came to the line；
〃And the larch has hung all his tassels forth；〃
he smiled so delightedly； that Hugh said：
〃Are you fond of the larch； Harry？〃
〃Yes； very。〃
〃Are there any about here？〃
〃I don't know。 What is it like？〃
〃You said you were fond of it。〃
〃Oh； yes； it is a tree with beautiful tassels； you know。 I think I
should like to see one。 Isn't it a beautiful line？〃
〃When you have finished the poem； we will go and see if we can find
one anywhere in the woods。 We must know where we are in the world；
Harrywhat is all round about us； you know。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Harry； 〃let us go and hunt the larch。〃
〃Perhaps we shall meet Spring； if we look for herperhaps hear her
voice； too。〃
〃That would be delightful；〃 answered Harry； smiling。 And away they
went。
I may just mention here that Mrs。 Hemans was allowed to retire
gradually； till at last she was to be found only in the more
inaccessible recesses of the library…shelves； while by that time
Harry might be heard； not all over the house； certainly； but as far
off as outside the closed door of the library； reading alou