The record-union., 1896-03-07

were proud of him. They admired the
grace and dignity of his tall form, the
refinement and kindliness of his face
his courtly greeting. They admired
his wit. too, though there were, to be
sure. some honest souls who were nom
plussed by it. This is lovely weather, I"
such one might say, on a moist warm
spring morning, and the Professor
would answer, in a solemn voice,
Madam, it savors of the tomb. ?" A
guest would be startled and puzzled
when he exclaimed with severity, You
are cutting your lettucei never let that
occur again." or when he shouted,
pointing at an untouched plate, make
use O. that pudding" After such epi-
sodes Grace would expostulate with her
uncle, and anxiously ask Leo if she
thought the girls understood him. Leo
always comforted her with a laugh,
under which was sense of satisfaction
that she at least could appreciate her
dear Professor.
1t was this very sympathy with him
that made her understand that to en-
tertain him during his illness would not
be easy. Even though fat on his back,
he would somehow manage to be the
entertainer. She knew that to try to
amuse him by reading to him was to
say, Quick, thy tablets, Memory!"
for he was sure to close his eyes half
wearily, laugh gently (the Professor
never laughed aloud, even when his
eyeglasses fell off. and his big teeth
showed at their best), and to say, THAT
reminds me-" And so it was only be-
cause sick-room amusements are few,
and not without compunctions, that
Leo asked, when the glass of water had
done its little all, May l read to you,
Mr.. Lyman?"
Fetch me that volume of Matthew
Arnold" said he. 1t opened as if by
habit at the right place. as he asked,
do you know "A Wish'?' Leo began
to read, while there stole over her
feeling that the book was sacred to the
Professor. He interrupted her to re-
peat:
I" Spare me the whispering, crowded room,
The friends who come, and cape, and go;
All that makes death hideous show
''That reminds me of a simple, SEN
sible old woman. I have often thought
of what she said when she was dying
the Professor closed his eyes a moment
= they wanted to send for her children.
No. said she, never mind! l always
did hate a fuss / often think of her
That's the trouble; we don't have time
enough to think. If / mad, / could write
books. I might write a great novel
But I seldom get round to things. 1t
is annoying to be slow. At the college
functions, for example. / think, Now
there goes So-and-So. I must say
something nice to her. But what shall
it be? x? No, that won't do Y?
Worse yet. q? Impossible. So she
passes on, and I've not said anything.
If / had more time, 1 might do good
works 1t was my birthday the other
day, and 1 thought an hour. I made
two good resolutions.
What were they, Mr.. Lyman?"
ITO fear God" said the Professor,
looking serious, and he added, with
out change of expression. Ito eat all the
good dinners / can. But you are not
reading" he exclaimed, reproachfuny.
This seems so sad" said Leo. MY
book on nursing says you should cheer
UP the sick"
We'll, I'll take whatever you like
It's immaterial. Read Hamlet Did
you ever hear me declaim 'Hamlet?' -"
Leo vividfy recalled certain morning
when she and Grace came down late to
breakfast to find the aged and decorous
Professor perched on the back of his
chair, an amused but distracted ex-
preston on his face. He descended as
quietly as if he were always to be found
thus roosting at that hour or the morn