“You’re right, my boy. Hold on that way and you’ll never be ashamed.”

For the meantime Richard went to London with his mother. So anxious was old Simon, stimulated in part by the faithfulness of his grandson, to do nothing that might thwart the pleasure of the tyrant, that when first Wingfold asked after Richard, he told him he was at home, and the next time that he was at work in the country.

Richard went on helping his uncle, going often to see his brother and sister. When Arthur was able for the journey, both Richard and Alice went with him. They were met at the station by Simon. After Arthur was comfortably settled, his brother and sister went back to London together. Alice took a single room and began her work once more, but with new courage and hope. Richard returned to bookbinding until his father had found a tutor for him.

With the help of the head of the university to which sir Wilton had resolved to send his son, a tutor was at length found—happily for Richard, one of the right sort. They went to Oxford together, and set to work at once. It would be difficult to say which of the two reaped the more pleasure from the relationship, or which, in the duplex process of teaching and learning, gained the most. For the tutor had in Richard a pupil of practiced brain yet fresh, a live soul ready, for its own need and nourishment, to use every truth it came near. Sunlight and air came through his open windows.

Finding Richard knew ten times as much of English literature as himself, in this department his tutor became the pupil’s pupil. And listening to his occasional utterance of a religious difficulty, new regions of thought opened in him, to the deepening and verifying of his nature.

Richard gained little distinction at his examinations. He did well enough, but was too eager after real knowledge to care about appearing to know more than he actually did.

He made friends, but not many close friends. He sorely missed ministration to Arthur and Alice. But it continued to grow upon Richard that, if there be a God, it is the one business of a man to find him, and that, if he would find him, he must obey the voice of his conscience.

As to the outward show of the man, Richard’s carriage gradually improved. Interaction with young men of his own age who were more at home in what is called society, influenced his manners, while all the time he was gathering the confidence of experience. His rowing and the daily run to and from the boats, along with other exercises prescribed by his tutor, strengthened his shoulders and lungs. He was fast growing more than presentable.

Old Simon did his best for Arthur. He would not hear of his going back to London, or attempting anything in the way of work beyond a little in the garden. He was indeed unfit for anything more.