‘You get on with him, then?’ said I.  ‘I was a little afraid.’

’I was on the verge of displeasing him once or twice, I fear, with random assertions and exaggerated expressions, such as one always uses with other people, and thinks nothing of; but I tried to check myself when I saw how it shocked the good man; and really it is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one’s words represent one’s thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others.’

‘Then you are quite friends now?’ I asked.

’Yes, thoroughly; at any rate as far as I go.  I never met with a man with such a desire for knowledge.  In information, as far as it can be gained from books, he far exceeds me on most subjects; but then I have travelled and seen—­Were not you surprised at the list of things I sent for?’

‘Yes; I thought it did not promise much rest.’

’Oh! some of the books were for the minister, and some for his daughter. (I call her Phillis to myself, but I use XX in speaking about her to others.  I don’t like to seem familiar, and yet Miss Holman is a term I have never heard used.)’

‘I thought the Italian books were for her.’

’Yes!  Fancy her trying at Dante for her first book in Italian!  I had a capital novel by Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, just the thing for a beginner; and if she must still puzzle out Dante, my dictionary is far better than hers.’

’Then she found out you had written those definitions on her list of words?’

’Oh! yes’—­with a smile of amusement and pleasure.  He was going to tell me what had taken place, but checked himself.

’But I don’t think the minister will like your having given her a novel to read?’

’Pooh!  What can be more harmless?  Why make a bugbear of a word?  It is as pretty and innocent a tale as can be met with.  You don’t suppose they take Virgil for gospel?’

By this time we were at the farm.  I think Phillis gave me a warmer welcome than usual, and cousin Holman was kindness itself.  Yet somehow I felt as if I had lost my place, and that Holdsworth had taken it.  He knew all the ways of the house; he was full of little filial attentions to cousin Holman; he treated Phillis with the affectionate condescension of an elder brother; not a bit more; not in any way different.  He questioned me about the progress of affairs in Eltham with eager interest.

‘Ah!’ said cousin Holman, ’you’ll be spending a different kind of time next week to what you have done this!  I can see how busy you’ll make yourself!  But if you don’t take care you’ll be ill again, and have to come back to our quiet ways of going on.

’Do you suppose I shall need to be ill to wish to come back here?’ he answered, warmly.  ’I am only afraid you have treated me so kindly that I shall always be turning up on your hands.’