So, when we had walked home and had had tea, I took Biddy into our little garden by the side of the lane, and, after throwing out in a general way for the elevation of her spirits, that I should never forget her, said I had a favor to ask of her.

     "And it is, Biddy," said I, "that you will not omit any opportunity of helping Joe on, a little."

     "How helping him on?" asked Biddy, with a steady sort of glance.

     "Well! Joe is a dear good fellow,--in fact, I think he is the dearest fellow that ever lived,--but he is rather backward in some things. For instance, Biddy, in his learning and his manners."

     Although I was looking at Biddy as I spoke, and although she opened her eyes very wide when I had spoken, she did not look at me.

     "O, his manners! won't his manners do then?" asked Biddy, plucking a black-currant leaf.

     "My dear Biddy, they do very well here--"

     "O! they do very well here?" interrupted Biddy, looking closely at the leaf in her hand.

     "Hear me out,--but if I were to remove Joe into a higher sphere, as I shall hope to remove him when I fully come into my property, they would hardly do him justice."