Gathered In by Catherine Helen Spence — Read

That James Oswald's ignorance was well-nigh absolute, was no surprise to his cousin. What could he possibly have learned? He never opened a book or even read the current news in the newspapers, and had no society which would improve him. How he could make out the racing news and the odds which his mother said interested him so much, was a puzzle to Kenneth, for he could not read aloud a sentence of English, without serious blunders, and of the ordinary rules of arithmetic he appeared to know nothing. His writing was as inelegant as his spelling was incorrect, and of ordinary matters, which are familiar to the schoolboy of ten, this lad of seventeen was perfectly ignorant. Was there any way of awakening curiosity, of arousing ambition, of breathing some soul into this clod? Had he any affection for either of his parents, or for any one?

Kenneth tried to get his cousin to talk, but for that Jim had no inclination. He was not going to speak to a spy and a tell-tale! Kenneth next tried to talk to him, but the pleasantness which had made him so popular in Edinburgh and on board the 'Kent' seemed altogether at fault here. No topic could interest him at all. His Scottish grandparents and their interest in Tingalpa and its inmates; what did he care for old fogies whom he had never seen and never wished to see? Edinburgh and its sights--perfectly stolid. The voyage--equally uninterested. The theatricals, with which he had amused Jim's mother, were pooh-poohed as mere amateurs' performance that no one used to Castlehurst or Melbourne professionals would care sixpence to see. The landing at Melbourne--one little spark of interest was elicited here.