"Just run over that multiplication at the top of the slate." "Oh, bother!" Edward said, after he had obeyed orders; "that figure three has made me all this trouble." "Smaller things than figure threes make trouble.

Have you been to school lately ?" "Always, till I came here; but I might just as well have been out until last winter." "What happened last winter ?" "Lots of things," answered Edward, with brightening eyes.

But he didn't seem disposed to state any of them; so, after waiting a little, Ray asked,-- "Wouldn't you get on faster with your books if you had a teacher ?" "Think likely I should; but I haven't got any, so I'll have to get on as fast as I can." "How would it do if I should play teacher while I am at home, and give you the hour from nine till ten ?" Edward laid down his pencil, turned his eyes for the first time full upon Ray, and looked at him in silent astonishment.
"Do you mean it ?" he asked at last.
"Certainly I do; I shouldn't say so if I didn't.

Don't you think you would like it ?" "Like it! I guess I would.

But I don't know--What do you do it for ?" "Because I am glad to help a boy who seems to be trying to help himself.
We will consider it settled, then.