Algebra. 47 



was surprised to see strange looking lines mixed 

 with letters, chiefly X'es and Y's, and asked ; " What 

 is that ? " " Oh," said Miss Ogilvie, " it is a kind 

 of arithmetic : they call it Algebra ; but I can tell 

 you nothing about it." And we talked about 

 other things; but on going home I thought I 

 would look if any of our books could tell me what 

 was meant by Algebra. 



In Robertson's " Navigation " I flattered myself 

 that I had got precisely what I wanted ; but I soon 

 found that I was mistaken. I perceived, however, 

 that astronomy did not consist in star-gazing,* and 

 as I persevered in studying the book for a time, I 

 certainly got a dim view of several subjects which 

 were useful to me afterwards. Unfortunately not one 

 of our acquaintances or relations knew anything of 

 science or natural history ; nor, had they done so, 

 should I have had courage to ask any of them a 

 question, for I should have been laughed at. I 

 was often very sad and forlorn; not a hand held 

 out to help me. 



My uncle and aunt Charters took a house at Burnt- 

 island for the summer, and the Miss Melville I have 

 already mentioned came to pay them a visit. She 



* Many people evidently think the science of astronomy consists 

 entirely in observing the stars, for I have been frequently asked if I 

 passed my nights looking through a telescope, and I have astonished 

 the enquirers by saving I did not even possess one. 



