In half an hour he had learned his task, while I had not mastered the half of mine.

Thereupon he proceeded, regardless of my entreaties, to prevent me learning it.

I begged, and prayed, and appealed to his pity, but he would pull the book away from me, gabble bits of ballads in my ear as I was struggling with _Effectual Calling_, tip up the form on which I was seated, and, in short, annoy me in twenty different ways.

At last I began to cry, for Mason was a bigger and stronger boy than I, and I could not help myself against him.

Lifting my head after the first vexation was over, I thought I saw a shadow pass from the window.