Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/62
tions were, in truth, passionate, yet controlled; so that the germa of many more plans than ever blossomed to maturity had place in him; and forward visions were kept purposely in twilight to avoid distraction.
Events so far had been encouraging. Shortly after assuming the mastership of his first school he had obtained an introduction to the bishop of a diocese far from his native county, who had looked upon him as a promising young man and taken him in hand, He was now in the second year of hie residence at the theological college of the cathedral town, and would soon be presented for ordination.
He entered the town, turned into a back street, and then inte a yard, keeping his book before him till he set foot under the arch of the latter place. Round the arch was written “ National School,” and the stone-work of the jambs was worn away as nothing but boys and the waves of the ocean will wear it. He was soon amid the sing-song accents of the scholars,
His brother Comelius, who was the school-master here, laid down the pointer with which he was directing attention to the capes of Europe, and came forward.
“That's his brother Jos!” whispered one of the sixth-standard boys. “He's going to be a pa’son, He’s now at college,”
“Comey is going to be one, too, when he’s saved enough money,” said another.
After greeting his brother, whom he had not seen for several months, the junior began to explain his system of teaching geography.
But Halborough the elder took no interest in the subject. ‘How about your own studies?” he asked. “Did you get the books I sent ?”
Cornelius had received them, and he related what he was doing.