I thus earned twenty-four sous a week

3. I used to hide myself when the inspectors happened to pass ! —

4. Why? — I was afraid they would think me loo weak {faible) to work

in a mine. (50, 9.)

5. But when I turned out to be so attentive to my work, they entrusted

me with more difficult jobs. (50, 12.)

6. The machines confided to my care were in a better condition than

the others. (50, 17.)

7. Instead of working like an automaton, I was anxious to understand

the complicated mechanism of steam-engines. (50, 20-24.)

8. But as I had not been sent to school, I could neither write nor read.

9. I went to the village schoolmaster, and told him that I had resolved

to learn reading and writing,

10. They were often seen to practise ciphering or writing on a slate.

11. In order to earn a little money, I used to mend the boots and shoes

of the miners. (50,38.)

12. Are you not anxious to learn to what qualities Stephenson was

indebted for his success? — We are. (51, 2.)