The attentive audience which had gathered around the professor separated when he had finished the story. Some of them went aloft, to look over the dikes, and with their eyes followed the long lines of ditches and canals which extended into the interior.
In the mean time, Mr. Hamblin walked the deck very uneasily, waiting for an opportunity to discuss his position with the principal. The studies of the classes were to be resumed on the following day, and he was anxious to know what disposition was to be made of him. The ship was already provided with an excellent instructor in Greek and Latin; and only in the department of mathematics was there a vacancy, made by the transfer of Mr. Fluxion. It would be impossible for Mr. Hamblin to teach anything but Greek and Latin, though he had had some experience in the other branches.
Mr. Lowington seemed to be provokingly indifferent on the subject, and the professor was at last compelled to ask an interview, which, however, his dignity compelled him to defer till the ship was approaching Flushing, when the steamer was to leave her. The principal understood the character of the learned gentleman very well, and knew that any manifestation of anxiety on his own part would so inflate the vanity of the professor that he could do nothing with him; but he granted the interview when it was demanded.
"Mr. Lowington, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done," said the savant, when they were alone in the main cabin. "I find that Mr. Fluxion has been transferred to the place I filled on the Josephine. As you are aware, I was employed to teach Latin and Greek."
"I am aware of it," replied the principal, still appearing to be singularly indifferent in such a momentous crisis, as it seemed to Mr. Hamblin.
"I presume Mr. Fluxion is competent to teach the classics."
"Entirely competent. He was assigned, in the beginning, to the department of navigation, on account of his knowledge of practical seamanship. I don't know that he has any superior as a teacher of the classics."
Mr. Hamblin did not like this answer. The principal had no business to think that any one was his equal in the department of Greek and Latin, especially the former. Mr. Fluxion had never written a Greek Grammar, compiled a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis. The remark of the principal was very injudicious.
"Having been displaced from my position in the consort, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done with me," added the professor, choking down his disgust.
"I hope we shall be able to make an arrangement that will be satisfactory to you, at least for the present," replied the principal. "I have had some consultation with the instructors; and Mr. Paradyme has obligingly consented to take the department of mathematics in the ship for a time, and the Greek and Latin will be assigned to you."