44 CANDLES TOO TALL. 



CHAPTER V. 



CANDLES TOO TALL. 



*' I WISH they would not have such tall candles and can- 

 dlesticks in our rooms," said John, as he took his seat at 

 the table. " The light is away up in the air, and I want it 

 down here on the table, where I am going to write." 



So saying, John began arranging his books and papers 

 on the table, looking up, at the same time, with an expres- 

 sion of dissatisfaction on his countenance, toward the light. 

 He, however, made no more complaint, but said, 



" I am going to do my half hour's study first, and after- 

 ward write in my journal. I want to do the hardest first." 



"I advise you to write in your journal first to-night," 

 said Lawrence ; " I have a particular reason, which I will 

 explain to you by-and-by." 



John was quite inclined in all cases to follow Lawrence's 

 advice, as he had always found his "particular reasons' 1 ' 

 very satisfactory. So he wrote for half an hour in his jour- 

 nal, while Lawrence sat near, in a large arm-chair, reading 

 the papers. 



As John shut up his journal and prepared to commence 

 his half hour's study, he looked up at the tall candles 

 again. 



" It would have done just as well," said he, "if these can- 

 dles had only been half as high, and then I should have 

 had twice as much light." 



''Four times as much," said Lawrence. 



" Twice as much," said John ; " they would have been 

 twice as near, and so would have given twice as much 

 light." 



