He had a book in his hand.
"Mr.Grant," he said, "will you help me with this passage in Xenophon ?" "With all my heart," answered Donal, and in a few moments had him out of his difficulty.
But instead of going, his lordship sat down a little way off, and went on with his reading--sat until master and pupil went out, and left him sitting there.

The next morning he came with a fresh request, and Donal found occasion to approve warmly of a translation he proposed.
From that time he came almost every morning.

He was no great scholar, but with the prospect of an English university before him, thought it better to read a little.
The housekeeper at the castle was a good woman, and very kind to Donal, feeling perhaps that he fell to her care the more that he was by birth of her own class; for it was said in the castle, "the tutor makes no pretence to being a gentleman." Whether he was the more or the less of one on that account, I leave my reader to judge according to his capability.

Sometimes when his dinner was served, mistress Brookes would herself appear, to ensure proper attention to him, and would sit down and talk to him while he ate, ready to rise and serve him if necessary.

Their early days had had something in common, though she came from the southern highlands of green hills and more sheep.