“Not done anything at geography! And the boy getting quite robust now! I am astonished, Mr. Sutherland. Why, when he was a mere child, he could repeat all the counties of England.” “Perhaps that may be the reason for the decided distaste he shows for it now, Mr. Arnold. But I will begin to teach him at once, if you desire it.” “I do desire it, Mr. Sutherland. A thorough geographical knowledge is essential to the education of a gentleman. Ask me any question you please, Mr. Sutherland, on the map of the world, or any of its divisions.” Hugh asked a few questions, which Mr. Arnold answered at once. “Pooh! pooh!” said he, “this is mere child’s play. Let me ask you some, Mr. Sutherland.” His very first question posed Hugh, whose knowledge in this science was not by any means minute. “I fear I am no gentleman,” said he, laughing; “but I can at least learn as well as teach. We shall begin to-morrow.” “What books have you?” “Oh! no books, if you please, just yet. If you are satisfied with Harry’s progress so far, let me have my own way in this too.” “But geography does not seem your strong point.” “No; but I may be able to teach it all the better from feeling the difficulties of a learner myself.” “Well, you shall have a fair trial.” Next morning Hugh and Harry went out for a walk to the top of a hill in the neighbourhood. When they reached it, Hugh took a small compass from his pocket, and set it on the ground, contemplating it and the horizon alternately. “What are you doing, Mr. Sutherland?” “I am trying to find the exact line that would go through my home,” said he. “Is that funny little thing able to tell you?” “Yes; this along with other things. Isn’t it curious, Harry, to have in my pocket a little thing with a kind of spirit in it, that understands the spirit that is in the big world, and always points to its North Pole?” “Explain it to me.” “It is nearly as much a mystery to me as to you.” “Where is the North Pole?” “Look, the little thing points to it.” “But I will turn it away. Oh! it won’t go. It goes back and back, do what I will.”