In Greek Waters

t they were proud of him: learned men came to visit him, and his name was widely known as the author of various treatises and books which were precious to deep scholars, and were held in high re

he county, which some of his ancestors had represented in parliament; but for all that it would have been ridiculous to call a man squir

ancient books in the reading-room of the British Museum. He was never seen at the meetings of magistrates, or at social gatherings of any kind, and when his name was mentioned at these,

ignation of his family, married a Greek lady. Upon coming into possession of the property, two years later, John B

ersonally to the management of his estate. He was a man of little sentiment, and had but a poor opinion of the Greeks in general. But to Herbert she often talked of the days of her childhood, and imbued him with her own passionate love of her native country. This led him at school to devote himself to the study of Greek with such energy and ar

ning at the university, he used to shrug his shoulders and say, "What is the good of it? He has not got to work for his living. I would rather see him back a horse over a five-barred gate than write Greek like Homer." He had

for three years, by the end of which time he was as perfectly acquainted with modern as with ancient Greek. Then he returned home, bringing with him two Greek attendants, turned the drawing-room into a library, and

rt," she said; "it is pla

thought of m

suppose, that this place, after being in the hands of our family for hundreds of years, is

t know anyo

of whom would suit you. You want a thoroughly good, sensible wife, and the

like other people, I onl

is in all respects suitable for you. She is fairly pretty, and very bright and domesticated, with plenty of common sense. She won't have any money; for although her father's estate is a nice one, she has four or five brothers, and I don't suppose Mr. Hendon lays by a penny of his income. However, that matters v

three months later they were married. He then went back to his library again, and his wife took the management of the estate and house into her capable hands. During her lifetime Herbert Beveridge em

ed Horace, which was a sort of compromise. Mr. Beveridge had wished that he should have the name of some Greek worthy-his favourites being either Themistocles or Aristides. His mother had called i

now what boys are; we have plenty of them in our family. If he were Aristides he would get the nickname of Tidy, which would be hideous. The other

r. Beveridge said, "such

ve something classical why not take the name of Horace? One of Mary's brothers is Horace

always talked to him in Greek. Thus at his mother's death the boy was able to talk the language as fluently as English. In other respects he showed no signs whatever of taking after his father's tastes. He was a sturdy boy, and evinced even greater antipathy than usual to learning the alphabet, and was never so happy as when he could persuade Marco to tak

king about doing wi

gaged on a paper throwing new light o

boy, your boy; it is high

other day about gett

open air, and not to want him always at her apron-string. If when he gets to the age of twenty he develops a taste for Greek-which Heaven forbid!-or for Chinese, or for any other heathen and out-of-the-way study, it will be quite time enough for him to take it up. The Beveridges have always been men of action. It is all very well, Herber

I hope, for it is acknowledged that my book on the use of the digamma threw an entirely new light upon the subject. Still I cannot expect, nor do I wish, that Horace should follow in my footsteps. Indeed, I trust, that when I

Hendon's two boys to school. One is about his own age and one is a little older. The

make arrangements for the boy to go with h

he day to which the boy always looked forward with some dread. Sometimes his father would chat cheerfully to him, always in modern Greek; at others he would sit silent and abstracted, waking up occasionally and making some abrupt remark to the boy, and then again lapsing into silence. When

, but even his Aunt Fordyce, when he broached the su

s and hundreds of ships have been paid off and laid up, and there are thousands of officers on half-pay, and without the smallest chance of ever getting employment again. You have arrived too late in the world for sailoring. Besides, I do not think in any case your father would consent to such a thing. I am happy to say that I do not think he has any idea, or even desire, that you should turn out a famous scholar as he is. But to a man like him it would seem terrible that your education should cease altogeth

ked a litt

; "it would not be fair for you to go into the

s that

keep life together on the few pounds a year they get, it would be hard indeed for

It certainly would be a beastly shame for a fellow who can do anythi

ave done with college, there is no reason why you should not get your father to let you ei

"Yes, that would be really better than going

the absurdity of it. Her opinion is that as you are so fond of the water, and as Marco can manage a boat well, it would be a good thing for you to have one of your own, instead of going out always with the fishermen; the idea seemed to me a good one, so I got her to write to some one she knows at Exmo

you very mu

be very dull here. Choose any boat you like. I have been talking to Marco, and he says that she can be hauled up on the beach and lie there perfectly safe when you are away. Of course if necessary he can have a young fellow or two from the village to help while you are at

which passed along the main road four miles from Seaport, and arrived at Exmouth at two. They had no difficulty in

Horace asked the serva

ace stood aghast. It had never struck hi

, if that will do," the servant sa

d; "but at any rate I

m, sir, if you

-built young fellow of two or th

ter, what is

Beveridge. I believe Captain Martyn was kind enoug

a dinghy or a man-of-war that was wanted we couldn't

ut I could not manage a boat by myself, not if there was any wind. But Marc

had learned to speak a certain amount of En

st say. The idea of a young cub like you having a boat with two or thre

ant a great big craft. Something about the size o

ost-captain to-morrow. Well, I will put on my cap and go with you. I have been looking about since my father heard about a boat being wanted. The letter said nothing about your age, or what size of boat was wanted; it gave in fact no useful information wha

NGSTER, WH

k. I am at Eton, but it is very slow in the holidays, and as I generally go out with the fishermen the b

rejoined them, and sauntered down towards the river. He led the way along t

r place," he said. "She is as sound as a bell, and

race said, looking at her w

water. He died three years after he built her, and she has been lying there ever since. Her gear has been all stowed away in a dry place, and the old sailor in charge of it says it is in perfect order. The old captain used to knock about on board of her with only a man and a boy, and she is as easy to handle as a cock-boat. I was out in her more

than anything Horace had had the idea of po

the sort of boat for us. See her when tide

If I had two or three hundred a year of my own there is nothing I should like better than to own that craft and knock about in her. Her only fault is she wants head-room. There is only five foot under her beams, for she has a low freeboard

ut do you think, Marco, my father meant

tting a little thing Mr. Horace tire of in a year or two. Can alwa

hall be able to get off to her in an hour. We will go and

ls and inspect them, and examine the ropes

g, and were well scrubbed before they were put away. And you may be sure Burrows used none but the best rope money could buy. Now we will go on board. She will look a different craft when her decks are holy-stoned, and she gets two or th

eek was delighted with her. Below she was in good order, except that she wanted a coat of paint. The cabins were of course entirel

tain's cabin on board a frigate, but on a small scale, and so was the state-room. We d

take to get her r

ement to me. I am looking for a berth at present in a merchantman, but there are such a number of men out of harness that it isn't easy to get a job. Look here, if you really want to learn some day to be fit to take charge of this craft yourself, you could not do better than persu

t home to-

goes through her

t he will," Horace said. "It isn't very easy to g

w that the Greek had far more opportunities of getting at h

obliged to you, Mr

e to me; or if he is bad at writing, write to me yourself after settling it wi

me have the boat, Marco?" Horace

ut it, but don't worry me.' So when I say, 'I have bought the boat; it is just the thing we want; it will cost a hundred pounds b

would be a good thing for me to

be glad to know that you

k when they got home. The o

ter in bed

he had forgotten all about Horace not being

have to wait till morning before I know about

easanter when you hear

eals except when Horace was at home, when he was considered specially told off to him. They lived apart from the other servants, having a room of t

king Marco again a boy like yourself, Horace. He is as eager about this boat as you are"; and he sm

o know all about it before breakfast time, for I am sure I sho

an hour before his time, dressed hastily, went out into the garden, and stood there looking over the sea. The fishing-boats were going out, and he pictured to himself the boat he had seen, gliding along among them, bigger and ever so much handsomer t

disappointment if he says no, but I sha'n't show it, because it is too much to expect him to do this. I should

orning,

He tells me you want to go over and see her fitted out. I think that that will be a very good plan. When you do

ather; it is awfu

have told Marco to make all arrangements, and not to worry me about things. At the beginning of each holiday he will say how much he will require for provisions on board, and the payment of the wages of a man and a boy. I sha

bed in it. When he himself had finished, Horace slipped away. He knew that his father would be at least two hours over the meal, which he only turned to

arco; think of that!

s for change. I told you your father would agree. It is just what I told him we should want. An open boat is no use except when the weather is fine, and then one must always keep close to port in case the wind should drop, and when it comes calm you have to break your back with rowing. Oh, we will h

a young midshipman under his orders; while Marco turned his hand to everything, singing snatches of sailor so

pper, I hear," William M

repeated vaguely. "I

be captain

at Seaport, a good fisherman. He sailed a long time in big ships. Man-of-war's man. When war over, came back to fish. I

e weather, and the ports and creeks to run into. It is all very well in fine weath

earance changed, and at the end of ten days-with all her rigging in place, her masts and spars scraped, her deck fairly white, and her sides glossy with black paint-she seemed to him a thing of perfect beauty. It was just the fortnight when the paint and varnish of t

knew what he was doing when he laid down her lines. She is like a duck on the water. I have been out in her when big ships were putting the

Tom Burdett-that is the man Marco

ill take her over for you. I shall enjoy the tr

Horace said; "we shall astonish

like this we should be there in the evening; but it is a good rule at sea never to trust the weather. Always have enough grub