A MORTIFICATION. 
303 
and was dashed into many pieces. Richard 
stopped short, looked at Jack steadily for a 
moment, and then departed without another 
word. He walked home feeling very much 
grieved and disappointed. He had had 
great hopes of Jack ever since his illness; 
and perhaps with other feelings was mingled 
some wounded pride as he thought how 
much he had said at home about his pupil’s 
improvement. He had really taken a great 
deal of pains and practised much self-denial 
upon the boy’s account, and now here was his 
reward. He felt so unhappy that on reach¬ 
ing a retired place in the woods, through 
which he usually passed, he sat down and 
cried,—a thing which he had not done in 
more than a year before. The first thing 
he heard on reaching the school-room was, 
“Where is Dick? We cannot do any thing 
without him. I suppose he is up at the saw¬ 
mill with his hopeful pupil, as usual.” The 
speaker was Annie, who had never become 
reconciled to the idea of her brother’s spend¬ 
ing so much time with that Short boy, as 
she called him. Richard had not intended 
to mention the affair at home; but his own 
feelings and Annie’s remarks were too 
