“Not a bit of it; I shall rather like it.  Until you can buy a grammar, I will lend you mine.  I’ll set you a lesson out of it now.”

He took from the book-shelves a French grammar, and inviting Harry to sit down beside him, gave him some necessary explanations as to the pronunciation of words according to the first lesson.

“It seems easy,” said Harry.  “I can take more than that.”

“It is the easiest of the modern languages, to us at least, on account of its having so many words similar to ours.”

“What evening shall I come, Oscar?”

“Tuesday and Friday will suit me as well as any.  And remember, Harry, I mean to be very strict in discipline.  And, by the way, how will it do to call myself Professor?”

“I’ll call you Professor if you want me to.”

“We’ll leave all high titles to Fitz, and I won’t use the rod any oftener than it is absolutely necessary.”

“All right, Professor Vincent,” said Harry laughing, “I’ll endeavor to behave with propriety.”

“I wonder what they would say at home,” said Oscar, “if they knew I had taken up the profession of teacher.  Strange as it may seem to you, Harry, I have the reputation in the home-circle of being decidedly lazy.  How do you account for it?”

“Great men are seldom appreciated.”

“You hit the nail on the head that time—­glad I am not the nail, by the way.  Henceforth I will submit with resignation to injustice and misconstruction, since I am only meeting with the common fate of great men.”

“What time is it, Oscar?”

“Nearly ten.”

“Then I will bid you good-night,” and Harry rose to go.  “I can’t tell how much I am obliged to you for your kind offer.”

“Just postpone thanks till you find out whether I am a good teacher or not.”

“I am sure of that.”

“I am not so sure, but I will do what I can for you.  Good-night.  I’ll expect you Friday evening.  I shall see Fitz to-morrow.  Shall I give him your love?”

“Never mind!” said Harry, smiling.  “I’m afraid it wouldn’t be appreciated.”

“Perhaps not.”

As Harry left his lively companion, he felt that he had been most fortunate in securing his friendship—­not only that he found him very agreeable and attractive, but he was likely to be of great use to him in promoting his plans of self-education.  He had too much good sense not to perceive that the only chance he had of rising to an influential position lay in qualifying himself for it, by enlarging his limited knowledge and improving his mind.

“I have made a good beginning,” he thought.  “After I have learned something of French, I will take up Latin, and I think Oscar will be willing to help me in that too.”

The next morning he commenced work in the printing office.  With a few hints from Ferguson, he soon comprehended what he had to do, and made very rapid progress.