One, which Octavia had covertly accented by twisting round her forefinger, stood up like a crest on his head.
"I've told Uncle Ben that you might help him here after school hours," said the master, taking him aside.

"You may therefore omit your writing exercise in the morning and do it in the afternoon." The boy's dark eyes sparkled.

"And if it would be all the same to you, sir," he added earnestly, "you might sorter give out in school that I was to be kept in." "I'm afraid that would hardly do," said the master, much amused.

"But why ?" Rupert's color deepened.

"So ez to keep them darned girls from foolin' round me and followin' me back here." "We will attend to that," said the master smiling; a moment after he added more seriously, "I suppose your father knows that you are to receive money for this?
And he doesn't object ?" "He! Oh no!" returned Rupert with a slight look of astonishment, and the same general suggestion of patronizing his progenitor that he had previously shown to his younger brother.