“Thank you, Mr. Sutherland. I don’t think I shall dislike rain so much any more.” Hugh took him next into the barn, where they found a great heap of straw. Recalling his own boyish amusements, he made him put off his cloak, and help to make a tunnel into this heap. Harry was delighted—the straw was so nice, and bright, and dry, and clean. They drew it out by handfuls, and thus excavated a round tunnel to the distance of six feet or so; when Hugh proceeded to more extended operations. Before it was time to go to lunch, they had cleared half of a hollow sphere, six feet in diameter, out of the heart of the heap. After lunch, for which Harry had been very unwilling to relinquish the straw hut, Hugh sent him to lie down for a while; when he fell fast asleep as before. After he had left the room, Euphra said: “How do you get on with Harry, Mr. Sutherland?” “Perfectly to my satisfaction,” answered Hugh. “Do you not find him very slow?” “Quite the contrary.” “You surprise me. But you have not given him any lessons yet.” “I have given him a great many, and he is learning them very fast.” “I fear he will have forgotten all my poor labours before you take up the work where we left it. When will you give him any book-lessons?” “Not for a while yet.” Euphra did not reply. Her silence seemed intended to express dissatisfaction; at least so Hugh interpreted it. “I hope you do not think it is to indulge myself that I manage Master Harry in this peculiar fashion,” he said. “The fact is, he is a very peculiar child, and may turn out a genius or a weakling, just as he is managed. At least so it appears to me at present. May I ask where you left the work you were doing with him?” “He was going through the Eton grammar for the third time,” answered Euphra, with a defiant glance, almost of dislike, at Hugh. “But I need not enumerate his studies, for I daresay you will not take them up at all after my fashion. I only assure you I have been a very exact disciplinarian. What he knows, I think you will find he knows thoroughly.” So saying, Euphra rose, and with a flush on her cheek, walked out of the room in a more stately manner than usual.