As in the exercise just given, begin to read and make such explanatory comments as are needed to show clearly the character of Martin. You will, of course, need to make the story lucid to the children. Show that-- _a._ Pelaez was a Spanish grandee of great strength and noble form. _b._ He was a coward at heart. _c._ Twice he ran from the enemy and avoided battle. _d._ Both times he was asked by the Cid to sit with him at the table, and not with the noblest knights. _e._ The first time Martin thought it an honor to himself; the second time, he saw it to be a grave reproof. _f._ Thereafter he fought nobly, was seated with the great knights, and became one of the Cid's most favored friends. When these points have been fixed in mind, proceed to develop an outline for the composition. It may be something like this: _a._ The character of Martin as we first meet him in the story, with instances to prove the nature of it. _b._ His character after he was changed by the Cid, with evidences to show it. Exemplified: 1. He was a coward. We know it from-- (_a_) His flight during the first battle. (_b_) His retreat during the second battle. (_c_) The fact that he was large, strong and well versed in arms yet would not fight. (_d_) The fact that he hoped to escape the notice of the Cid. 2. He was teachable. We know it because he needed but two lessons. 3. He was brave. We know it from his conduct in battle. 4. He had many noble characteristics. We know it because be became the trusted friend of the Cid. Put into the form of a composition, we might expect something like this: "Martin Pelaez, when we first knew him, was an arrant coward, for though strong, well-formed and versed in the use of arms, he more than once fled before the enemy. He had other traits of a coward, as we may know from his actions in hiding in his tent and hoping to escape the eye of his master and unfairly gain the reputation of a brave knight. "Later, however, under the wise treatment of the Cid he was made ashamed of his cowardice, conquered it and became a courageous warrior. In fact, he was one of the bravest and most powerful knights in the army of the Cid. "More than that, Martin Pelaez developed all the traits of a gentleman. He became a good keeper of secrets, was wise in counsel and brave in action." The foregoing is a good example of exposition, the third of the four forms of prose composition. ARGUMENT. _The Boston Massacre_ by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Volume IV, page 217) offers several good questions for debate. We may select the decision of the judges (page 223) as the one furnishing the best opportunity. Hawthorne says, "The judges told the jury that the insults and violence which had been offered to the soldiers justified them in firing at the mob."