"I am fond of teaching--when I find somebody that can learn." "You are very kind!--I should be very glad--Poor Rotha, I have been unable to do for her what I wished--" "I think you have done admirably, from the slight specimen I have had. How much time can she give to study?" "O she has time enough. She is much more idle than I like to have her." "Then that is arranged. I am going to send you a few raw oysters, Mrs. Carpenter; and I wish you would eat them at all times of day, whenever you feel like it. I knew a very slender lady once, who grew to very ample proportions by following such a regimen. Try what they will do for you." A grateful, silent look thanked him, and he took his departure. Rotha, who had been standing silent and cloudy, now burst forth. "Mother!--I do not want him to teach me!" "Why not, my child? I think he is very kind.' "Kind! I don't want to be taught out of kindness; and I _don't_ want _him_ to teach me, mother!" "What's the matter?" for Rotha was flushed and fierce. "I can learn without him. It is none of his business, whether I learn or not. And if I shouldn't say something just right, and he should find fault, I should be so angry I shouldn't know what to do!" "You talk as if you were angry now." "Well I am! Why did you say yes, mother?" "Would you have had me say no?" "Yes! I don't want to learn Latin anyhow. What's the use of my learning Latin? And of him,--O mother, mother!" And Rotha burst into impatient and impotent tears. "Why not of Mr. Digby?" said her mother soothingly. "O he is so--I can't tell!--he's so uppish." "He is not _uppish_ at all. I am ashamed of you, Rotha." "Well, nothing puts him out. He is just always the same; and he thinks everything must be as he says. I don't like him to come here teaching me." "What folly is this? He is a gentleman, that's all. Do you dislike him for being a gentleman?" "I'm not a lady"--sobbed Rotha. "What has that to do with it?" "Mother, I wish I could be a lady!" "My child, Mr. Digby told you how." "No, he didn't. He told me _what_ it was; he didn't tell me how I could get all that." "You can follow the Bible roles, at any rate, Rotha; and they go a good way." "No, I can't, mother. I could if I were a Christian, I suppose; but I am not I can't 'honour all men'; I don't know how; and I can't prefer others before myself I prefer myself But if I could, that wouldn't make me a lady."