"
"Could you stand an examination, think you, in each or any of them?"
"I am willing to try," I said, seating myself on the opposite side of the
table with folded hands, and possibly a martyrlike air of resignation.
"Since you are so willing we will take Froude's Caesar to-day; let me hear
you give a digest of the entire book."
My eyes sparkled; for this was the last volume I had read, and the author
had infused into my mind a strong leaven of his own hero-worship for the
majestic Caesar. I was surprised at the ease with which I repeated chapter
after chapter of those stirring incidents, while with his stern,
inscrutable face, my guardian turned the leaves to follow me in my rapid
flight from tragedy to tragedy in those stormy times.
He laid the book down without comment, and, glancing at the remainder of
the pile paused a moment, and then said: "I will defer the criticisms on
these to some other day. Your memory as well as vocal organs will be
fatigued."
I meanwhile resolved to consult those books again before the further
examination should take place.
"You have practised every day on the piano in addition to your other
work; may I ask how long a time you allowed yourself?"
"At least an hour, sometimes when it was wet or unpleasant out of doors I
took longer time. Never more than three hours, I believe."
"We will take an hour or two after dinner over your music, after this
once a week, we will spend a short time in reviewing what you read.
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