Perhaps this was by way of
getting rid of this constant follower while he asked his brother what
he thought of the boys' attainments.
Uncle John could not speak very highly of the learning of either; but
he said, "Sam knows thoroughly what he does know. As to the other,
he thinks he knows everything, and makes most awful shots. When I
asked them who Dido's husband was, Sam told me he did not know, and
Hal, that he was Diodorus Siculus--AT LEAST, Scipio--no, he meant
Sicyon."
"Then you think neither could stand an examination for the
cadetship?"
"I could not be sure of Sam; but I am quite sure that Hal could not."
Here the dinner-bell rang; the hungry populace rushed to the dining-
room, and the meal was gone through as merrily as could be, while
still the father never spoke to Henry. Uncle John was as pleasant
and good-natured as possible. Who would have thought of the marked
difference he made between dining with barbarians, or young
gentlefolks!
Dinner over, Captain Merrifield called Sam,--or rather, since that
was not necessary, as Sam was never willingly a yard from his elbow,
he ordered the others not to follow as they went into the garden
together.
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