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already forgotten a very great deal of what； according to Euphra； he
had been thoroughly taught。 No one can remember what is entirely
uninteresting to him。
Hugh was as precise about the grammar of a language as any Scotch
Professor of Humanity； old Prosody not excepted； but he thought it
time enough to begin to that； when some interest in the words
themselves should have been awakened in the mind of his pupil。 He
hated slovenliness as much as any one； but the question was； how
best to arrive at thoroughness in the end； without losing the higher
objects of study； and not how； at all risks； to commence teaching
the lesson of thoroughness at once； and so waste on the shape of a
pin…head the intellect which； properly directed； might arrive at the
far more minute accuracies of a steam…engine。 The fault of Euphra
in teaching Harry； had been that； with a certain kind of tyrannical
accuracy； she had determined to have the thing donenot merely
decently and in order； but prudishly and pedantically； so that she
deprived progress of the pleasure which ought naturally to attend
it。 She spoiled the walk to the distant outlook； by stopping at
every step； not merely to pick flowers； but to botanise on the
weeds； and to calculate the distance advanced。 It is quite true
that we ought to learn to do things irrespective of the reward； but
plenty of opportunities will be given in the progress of life； and
in much higher kinds of action； to exercise our sense of duty in
severe loneliness。 We have no right to turn intellectual exercises
into pure operations of conscience： these ought to involve essential
duty； although no doubt there is plenty of room for mingling duty
with those； while； on the other hand； the highest act of suffering
self…denial is not without its accompanying reward。 Neither is
there any exercise of the higher intellectual powers in learning the
mere grammar of a language； necessary as it is for a means。 And
language having been made before grammar； a language must be in some
measure understood； before its grammar can become intelligible。
Harry's weak （though true and keen） life could not force its way
into any channel。 His was a nature essentially dependent on
sympathy。 It could flow into truth through another loving mind：
left to itself； it could not find the way； and sank in the dry sand
of ennui and self…imposed obligations。 Euphra was utterly incapable
of understanding him； and the boy had been dying for lack of
sympathy； though neither he nor any one about him had suspected the
fact。
There was a strange disproportion between his knowledge and his
capacity。 He was able； when his attention was directed； his gaze
fixed； and his whole nature supported by Hugh； to see deep into many
things； and his remarks were often strikingly original； but he was
one of the most ignorant boys； for his years； that Hugh had ever
come across。 A long and severe illness； when he was just passing
into boyhood； had thrown him back far into his childhood； and he was
only now beginning to show that he had anything of the boy…life in
him。 Hence arose that unequal development which has been
sufficiently evident in the story。
In the afternoon； they went to the wood； and found the tree they had
chosen for their nest。 To Harry's intense admiration； Hugh； as he
said； went up the tree like a squirrel； only he was too big for a
bear even。 Just one layer of foliage above the lowest branches； he
came to a place where he thought there was a suitable foundation for
the nest。 From the ground Harry could scarcely see him； as； with an
axe which he had borrowed for the purpose （for there was a
carpenter's work…shop on the premises）； he cut away several small
branches from three of the principal ones； and so had these three as
rafters； ready dressed and placed； for the foundation of the nest。
Having made some measurements； he descended； and repairing with
Harry to the work…shop； procured some boarding and some tools； which
Harry assisted in carrying to the tree。 Ascending again； and
drawing up his materials； by the help of Harry； with a piece of
string； Hugh in a very little while had a level floor； four feet
square； in the heart of the oak tree； quite invisible from
belowburied in a cloud of green leaves。 For greater safety； he
fastened ropes as handrails all around it from one branch to
another。 And now nothing remained but to construct a bench to sit
on； and such a stair as Harry could easily climb。 The boy was quite
restless with anxiety to get up and see the nest； and kept calling
out constantly to know if he might not come up yet。 At length Hugh
allowed him to try； but the poor boy was not half strong enough to
climb the tree without help。 So Hugh descended； and with his aid
Harry was soon standing on the new…built platform。
〃I feel just like an eagle；〃 he cried； but here his voice faltered；
and he was silent。
〃What is the matter； Harry？〃 said his tutor。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 replied he； 〃only I didn't exactly know whereabouts
we were till I got up here。〃
〃Whereabouts are we； then？〃
〃Close to the end of the Ghost's Walk。〃
〃But you don't mind that now； surely； Harry？〃
〃No； sir； that is； not so much as I used。〃
〃Shall I take all this down again； and build our nest somewhere
else？〃
〃Oh； no； if you don't think it matters。 It would be a great pity；
after you have taken so much trouble with it。 Besides； I shall
never be here without you； and I do not think I should be afraid of
the ghost herself； if you were with me。〃
Yet Harry shuddered involuntarily at the thought of his own daring
speech。
〃Very well； Harry； my boy； we will finish it here。 Now； if you
stand there； I will fasten a plank across here between these two
stumpsno； that won't do exactly。 I must put a piece on to this
one； to raise it to a level with the otherthen we shall have a
seat in a few minutes。〃
Hammer and nails were busy again； and in a few minutes they sat down
to enjoy the 〃soft pipling cold〃 which swung all the leaves about
like little trap…doors that opened into the Infinite。 Harry was
highly contented。 He drew a deep breath of satisfaction as； looking
above and beneath and all about him； he saw that they were folded in
an almost impenetrable net of foliage； through which nothing could
steal into their sanctuary； save 〃the chartered libertine； the air；〃
and a few stray beams of the setting sun； filtering through the
multitudinous leaves； from which they caught a green tint as they
passed。
〃Fancy yourself a fish；〃 said Hugh； 〃in the depth of a cavern of sea
weed； which floats about in the slow swinging motion of the heavy
waters。〃
〃What a funny notion！〃
〃Not so absurd as you may think； Harry； for just as some fishes
crawl about on the bottom of the sea； so do we men at the bottom of
an ocean of air； which； if it be a thinner one； is certainly a
deeper one。〃
〃Then the birds are the swimming fishes； are they not？〃
〃Yes； to be sure。〃
〃And you and I are two mermendoing what？ Waiting for mother
mermaid to give us our dinner。 I am getting hungry。 But it will be
a long time before a mermaid gets up here； I am afraid。〃
〃T