Beta Book

"
"What! you will capture Verty, that roving bird?"
"Yes; and make of this roving swallow another bird called a secretary.
I suppose you've read some natural history, and know there's such a
feathered thing."
"Yes."
"Very well," said Mr. Rushton, kicking his horse, and cramming his
cocked hat down on his forehead. "I'll show you how little you know of
human nature and character. I'll take this wild Indian boy, brought up
in the woods, and as free and careless as a deer, and in six months
I'll change him into a canting, crop-eared, whining pen-machine, with
quills behind his ears, and a back always bending humbly. I'll take
this honest barbarian and make a civilized and enlightened individual
out of him--that is to say, I'll change him into a rascal and a
hypocrite."
With which misanthropic words Mr. Rushton nodded in a surly way to the
smiling Squire, and took his way down the road toward Winchester.
"Well, well," said the old gentleman, looking after him, "Rushton
seems to be growing rougher than ever;--what a pity that so noble
a heart should have such a husk.


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