CHAPTER 2

Amelius went straight back to the cottage, with the one desperate purpose of reverting to the old plan, and burying himself in his books. Surveying his well-filled shelves with an impatience unworthy of a scholar, Hume's "History of England" unhappily caught his eye. He took down the first volume. In less than half an hour he discovered that Hume could do nothing for him. Wisely inspired, he turned to the truer history next, which men call fiction. The writings of the one supreme genius, who soars above all other novelists as Shakespeare soars above all other dramatists--the writings of Walter Scott--had their place of honour in his library. The collection of the Waverley Novels at Tadmor had not been complete. Enviable Amelius had still to read _Rob Roy._ He opened the book. For the rest of the day he was in love with Diana Vernon; and when he looked out once or twice at the garden to rest his eyes, he saw "Andrew Fairservice" busy over the flowerbeds.

He closed the last page of the noble story as Toff came in to lay the cloth for dinner.

The master at table and the servant behind his chair were accustomed to gossip pleasantly during meals. Amelius did his best to carry on the talk as usual. But he was no longer in the delightful world of illusion which Scott had opened to him. The hard realities of his own everyday life had gathered round him again. Observing him with unobtrusive attention, the Frenchman soon perceived the absence of the easy humour and the excellent appetite which distinguished his young master at other times.

1. Where did Ameilus go back to?
2. What did he plan to do?
3. What book first caught his eye?
4. Was his collection of Waverley novels complete?
5. What were the master at the table and servant behind his chair use to?
6. What did the Frenchman notice?
7. Who did Amelius think was a supreme genius?
8. Did he think anyone else wrote better drama?
9. What book did he end up reading?
10. Who put the cloth down for dinner?
1. the cottage
2. burying himself in his books
3. Hume's "History of England"
4. no
5. to gossip pleasantly during meals
6. the absence of the easy humour and the excellent appetite which distinguished his young master at other times
7. Shakespeare
8. no
9. Rob Roy
10. Toff