their manners. The youth delivers himself in chosen language; such as is seldom heard in these hills, and such as occasions great surprise to me, how one so meanly clad, and following so lowly a pursuit, could attain. Mohegan also knew him. Doubtless he is a tenant of Natty's hut. Did you notice the language of the lad, Monsieur Le Quoi?"
"Certainement, Monsieur Templ'," returned the Frenchman, "he deed conevairse in de most excellent Anglaise."
"The boy is not a miracle," exclaimed Richard; "I've known children that were sent to school early, talk much better, before they were twelve years old. There was Zareed Coe, old Nehemiah's son, who first settled on the beaverdam meadow, he could write almost as good a hand as myself, when he was fourteen; though it's true, I helped to teach him a little, in the long evenings. But this shooting gentleman ought to be put in the storks, if he ever takes a rein in his hand again. He is the most awkward fellow about a horse I ever met with. I dare say, he never drove any thing but oxen in his life."
"There I think, Dickon, you do the lad injustice," said the Judge; "he uses much discretion in critical moments.—Dost thou not think so, Bess? "
There was nothing in this question particularly to excite the blushes of a maiden, but Elizabeth started from the reverie into which she had fallen, and coloured to her forehead, as she answered—
"To me, my dear sir, he appeared extremely skilful, and prompt, and courageous; but perhaps cousin Richard will say, I am as ignorant as the gentleman himself."
"Gentleman!" echoed Richard; "do you call such chaps gentlemen, at school, Elizabeth?"
