lose； I can tell you。 Just say to Miss Talbot that you were with
me。〃
〃You know her； then？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃You seem to know everybody。〃
〃If I have spoken to a person once； I never forget him。〃
〃That seems to me very strange。〃
〃It is simple enough。 The secret of it is； that； as far as I can
help it； I never have any merely business relations with any one。 I
try always not to forget that there is a deeper relation between us。
I commonly succeed worst in a drawing…room； yet even there； for the
time we are together； I try to recognise the present humanity；
however much distorted or concealed。 The consequence is； I never
forget anybody； and I generally find that others remember meat
least those with whom I have had any real relations； springing from
my need or from theirs。 The man who mends a broken chair for you；
or a rent in your coat； renders you a human service； and； in virtue
of that； comes nearer to your inner self； than nine…tenths of the
ladies and gentlemen whom you meet only in what is called society；
are likely to do。〃
〃But do you not find it awkward sometimes？〃
〃Not in the least。 I am never ashamed of knowing any one； and as I
never assume a familiarity that does not exist； I never find it
assumed towards me。〃
Hugh found the advantage of Falconer's sociology when he mentioned
to Miss Talbot that he had been his guest that night。
〃You should have sent us word； Mr。 Sutherland；〃 was all Miss
Talbot's reply。
〃I could not do so before you must have been all in bed。 I was
sorry； but I could hardly help it。〃
Miss Talbot turned away into the kitchen。 The only other indication
of her feeling in the matter was； that she sent him up a cup of
delicious chocolate for his lunch； before he set out for Mr。
Appleditch's； where she had heard at the shop that he was going。
My reader must not be left to fear that I am about to give a
detailed account of Hugh's plans with these unpleasant little
immortals； whose earthly nature sprang from a pair whose religion
consisted chiefly in negations； and whose main duty seemed to be to
make money in small sums； and spend it in smaller。 When he arrived
at Buccleuch Crescent； he was shown into the dining…room； into which
the boys were separately dragged； to receive the first instalment of
the mental legacy left them by their ancestors。 But the legacy…duty
was so heavy that they would gladly have declined paying it； even
with the loss of the legacy itself； and Hugh was dismayed at the
impossibility of interesting them in anything。 He tried telling
them stories even； without success。 They stared at him； it is true；
but whether there was more speculation in the open mouths； or in the
fishy； overfed eyes； he found it impossible to determine。 He could
not help feeling the riddle of Providence in regard to the birth of
these； much harder to read than that involved in the case of some of
the little thieves whose acquaintance he had made； when with
Falconer； the evening before。 But he did his best； and before the
time had expiredtwo hours； namely；he had found out； to his
satisfaction； that the elder had a turn for sums； and the younger
for drawing。 So he made use of these predilections to bribe them to
the exercise of their intellect upon less…favoured branches of human
accomplishment。 He found the plan operate as well as it could have
been expected to operate upon such material。
But one or two little incidents； relating to his intercourse with
Mrs。 Appleditch； I must not omit。 Though a mother's love is more
ready to purify itself than most other lovesyet there is a class
of mothers； whose love is only an extended； scarcely an expanded；
selfishness。 Mrs。 Appleditch did not in the least love her children
because they were children； and children committed to her care by
the Father of all children； but she loved them dearly because they
were her children。
One day Hugh gave Master Appleditch a smart slap across the fingers；
as the ultimate resource。 The child screamed as he well knew how。
His mother burst into the room。
〃Johnny； hold your tongue！〃
〃Teacher's been and hurt me。〃
〃Hold your tongue； I say。 My head's like to split。 Get out of the
room； you little ruffian！〃
She seized him by the shoulders； and turned him out； administering a
box on his ear that made the room ring。 Then turning to Hugh；
〃Mr。 Sutherland； how dare you strike my child？〃 she demanded。
〃He required it； Mrs。 Appleditch。 I did him no harm。 He will mind
what I say another time。〃
〃I will not have him touched。 It's disgraceful。 To strike a
child！〃
She belonged to that class of humane parents who consider it cruel
to inflict any corporal suffering upon children； except they do it
themselves； and in a passion。 Johnnie behaved better after this；
however； and the only revenge Mrs。 Appleditch took for this
interference with the dignity of her eldest born； and； consequently；
with her own as his mother； was； thatwith the view； probably； of
impressing upon Hugh a due sense of the menial position he occupied
in her familyshe always paid him his fee of one shilling and
sixpence every day before he left the house。 Once or twice she
contrived accidentally that the sixpence should be in coppers。 Hugh
was too much of a philosopher； however； to mind this from such a
woman。 I am afraid he rather enjoyed her spite； for he felt it did
not touch him； seeing it could not be less honourable to be paid by
the day than by the quarter or by the year。 Certainly the coppers
were an annoyance； but if the coppers could be carried； the
annoyance could be borne。 The real disgust in the affair was； that
he had to meet and speak with a woman every day； for whom he could
feel nothing but contempt and aversion。 Hugh was not yet able to
mingle with these feelings any of the leaven of that charity which
they need most of all who are contemptible in the eye of their
fellows。 Contempt is murder committed by the intellect； as hatred
is murder committed by the heart。 Charity having life in itself； is
the opposite and destroyer of contempt as well as of hatred。
After this； nothing went amiss for some time。 But it was very
dreary work to teach such boysfor the younger came in for the odd
sixpence。 Slow； stupid； resistance appeared to be the only
principle of their behaviour towards him。 They scorned the man whom
their mother despised and valued for the self…same reason； namely；
that he was cheap。 They would have defied him had they dared； but
he managed to establish an authority over themand to increase it。
Still； he could not rouse them to any real interest in their
studies。 Indeed； they were as near being little beasts as it was
possible for children to be。 Their eyes grew dull at a story…book；
but greedily bright at the sight of bull's eyes or toffee。 It was
the same day after day； till he was sick of it。 No doubt they made
some progress； but it was scarcely perceptible to him。 Through fog
and fair； through frost and snow； through wind and rain； he trudged
to that wretched house。 No one minds the weatherno young
Scotchman； at leastwhere any pleasure waits the close of the
struggle： to fight his way to misery was more than he could well
endure。 But his deliverance was nearer than he expected。 It was
not to come just yet； however。
All went on with frightful sameness； till sundry doubtful symptoms
of an alteration in the personal appearance of Hugh having
accumulated at last into a mass of evidence； forced the conviction
upon the mind of the grocer's wife； that her tutor was actually
growing a beard。 Could she believe her eyes？ She said she could
not。 But she acted on their testimony notwithstanding； and one day
suddenly addressing Hugh； said； in her usual cold； thin； cutting
fashion of speech：
〃Mr。 Sutherland； I am astonished and grieved that you； a teacher of
babes； who should set an example to them； should disguise yourself
in such an outlandish figure。〃
〃What do you mean； Mrs。 Appleditch？〃 asked Hugh； who； though he had
made up his mind to follow the example of Falconer； yet felt
uncomfortable enough； during the transition period； to know quite
well what she meant。
〃What do I mean； sir？ It is a shame for a man to let his beard grow
like a monkey。〃
〃But a monkey hasn't a beard；〃 retorted Hugh； laughing。 〃Man is the
only animal who has one。〃
This assertion； if not quite correct； was approximately so； and went
much nearer the truth than Mrs。 Appleditch's argument。
〃It's no joking matter； Mr。 Sutherland； with my two darlings growing
up to be ministers of the gospel。〃
〃What！ both of them？〃 thought Hugh。 〃Good heavens！〃 But he said：
〃Well； but you know； Mrs。 Appleditch； the Apostles themselves wore
beards。〃
〃Yes； when they were Jews。 But who would have believed them if they
had preached the gospel like old clothesmen？ No； no； Mr。
Sutherland； I see through all that。 My own uncle was a preacher of
the word。As soon as the Apostles became Christians； they shaved。
It was the sign of Christianity。 The Apostle Paul himself says
that cleanliness is next to godliness。〃
Hugh restrained his laughter； and shifted his ground。
〃But there is