‘So she is,’ assented Ebenezer, ‘and you’re very fond of her, ain’t you? She’s fond of you, too. She thinks you are one of the cleverest girls out. And so you are. You’ve had a hard job with Brougham’s Latin. He don’t take to learning as I did. I was a self-taught man, Miss Scratchell. I bought a Latin grammar at a bookstall, when I was a factory hand, and used to sit up of a night puzzling over it till I taught myself as much Latin as many a chap knows that’s cost his parents no end of money. My education never cost anybody anything, except myself--and it cost me about a pound, first and last, for books. I don’t know many books, you know, but them I do know I know thoroughly. The Vicar himself couldn’t beat me at an argument, when it comes to the subjects I’m up in. But I don’t pretend to know everything. I ain’t a many-sided man. I couldn’t tell you what breed of tomcats was ranked highest in Egypt, or where’s the likeliest spot in the sky to look for a new planet.’ ‘Everybody knows that you are very clever,’ said Bella, safely. ‘Well, I hope nobody has ever found me very stupid. But I want my children to know a deal more than me. They must be able to hold their own against all comers. I should like ’em to read off the monuments in Egypt as pat as I can read the newspaper. Like that French fellow Shampoleon, we heard so much of when I was a young man. Come and have a look at the conservatory, and take home some flowers for your mar.’ ‘You are very kind, Mr. Piper; but I’m rather in a hurry. I am not going home. I am on a visit to the Water House.’ ‘The deuce you are!’ exclaimed Mr. Piper. ‘There’s not many visitors there, I take it. You must be uncommon dull.’ ‘Other people might find it dull, perhaps; but I am very happy there. I am very fond of Beatrix Harefield.’ ‘Ah! she’s a fine grown young woman; but she ain’t my style. Looks as if there was a spice of the devil in her. Come and have a look at the conservatory. You can take Miss Harefield some flowers.’ The conservatory opened out of the hall, to which they had descended by this time. Bella could not refuse to go in and look at Mr. Piper’s expensive collection of tropical plants, with long Latin names. His conservatory was an object of interest to him in his present comparatively idle life. He knew all the Latin names, and the habits of all the plants. He cut off some of the blossoms that were on the wane, and presented them to Bella, talking about himself and his wife and children all the while. She had a hard struggle to get away, for Mr. Piper approved of her, just as Dr. Johnson approved of Kitty Clive, as a nice little thing to sit beside one, or, in other words, a good listener. Bella got back to the Water House in time for luncheon, a meal which the two girls took together in a snug breakfast parlour on the ground floor. The dining-room was much too large for the possibility of cheerfulness.