"The reasons that decided me to employ a tutor for you still exist, though he has left us. There are branches in which you need instruction which I am unfortunately not able to give." "I seem to have lost all taste for study now, you know, mother." "You must make some effort to overcome this languor. It worries me very much." "I will try, mother." "But it seems to me that if you had some one to encourage you in your good resolutions, and assist your studies, it would be much better for you, don't you think so?" "Your encouragement suffices for me." "I may encourage you, but as I said before, I am unable to render you any assistance, so I have thought it would be advisable to replace the tutor who just left us." "Replace him? It is not worth while to think of that, mother. I don't want any tutor." "But you need one, nevertheless, so I have engaged a new one for you." "You must be joking, mother." "You and I seem to have gotten sadly out of the habit of jesting, my dear boy. The jolly times you and I used to have together seem almost like a dream when I think of them now. But to return to the subject I was speaking of. Your new tutor will probably arrive--" "Arrive! When?" "To-day." Frederick's face turned scarlet, and, springing up abruptly, he stamped angrily upon the floor, exclaiming: "I will not have any tutor, mother; do you hear me?" "But listen, my child, I beg of you." "I will not have a tutor, I tell you. Send him away; it is useless to take him. I will serve him exactly as I did the other." Up to this time Madame Bastien's manner toward her son had always been tender, almost entreating, but realising that she must show no weakness now, she replied, in a firm though affectionate tone: "I have decided that it will be for your interest to have a tutor, my son, so I feel sure you will respect my wishes." "You will see if I do." "If you mean by that, that you hope to wear your new tutor out by your obstinacy and ill-temper, you will make a great mistake; first, because you will grieve me very much, and, secondly, because M. David, for that is his name, is not a person who will be easily disheartened. This is sufficiently proven by the fact that your anger and impertinence only served to arouse his commiseration." "What do you mean? Who are you talking about?" "The gentleman you met at Doctor Dufour's house." "What! that man--" "Is the tutor I have selected for you." "Is that so?" responded Frederick, with a bitter smile. "After all, what difference does it make? I had just as soon contend with one as with the other." Though convinced that Henri David was fully prepared for all the tribulations of the difficult task he wished to undertake, Marie was naturally desirous of sparing the generous-hearted man an ungracious reception, so she resolved to appeal to her son's affection, which had never failed her heretofore.