"No, sir; I lived in Liverpool till I was twelve or thirteen years of age."
"And how do you like farming?"
"Very well, I think; but, really, I've scarcely thought about it."
"You are not uncomfortable, then?"
"Oh, no! far from it. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher took me in when I was houseless, homeless, friendless, and all but dead, and ever since have treated me with the utmost kindness. I have a better home now than I ever had before in my life, and as for the work I do, I feel that it's but poor compensation for the kindness bestowed upon me."
"You have no wish, then, to be anything different to what you are?"
"I did not say so, sir; but as I have no expectation of being other than what I am, I try to be content."
"Ah, just so; and yet I am told you have paid considerable attention to intellectual pursuits."
"I have tried to make the most of my opportunities for acquiring knowledge. I'm fond of books—very; and knowledge I love for its own sake."
"Well spoken, Mr. Bates. I like to hear a young man talk in that way. You are a good penman, Mr. Jones tells me."