To-day you will do better, I have no doubt, and to-morrow better still.

And thus, in the course of a week, I have great confidence that you will learn to study for three hours by yourself, to good advantage." "Two hours and a half it is," said Marco.
"Yes," said Forester.
It resulted as Forester predicted.

Marco, finding that Forester was disposed to be pleased with and to commend his efforts, made greater efforts every day, and, in the course of a week, he began to be a very respectable student.

In the afternoon he used to ramble about, sometimes with Forester, and sometimes alone.

He was very fond of fishing, and Forester used to allow him to go to certain parts of the river, where the water was not deep, alone, trusting to his word that he would confine himself strictly to the prescribed bounds..