"Oh, the father did. He said Latin was the key to all other languages. I wonder how many I shall have to learn? Miss Arabella said it was foolishness, except the French."
"Let me hear you read a little. This is not difficult."
He was not sure there was any call for a girl to know Latin. French seemed quite necessary.
She began in a hesitating manner and blundered somewhat at first, but as she went on gained courage, her voice growing firmer and clearer.
"Why, that is very well. You ought to be at a higher school than Mrs. Webb's. And now let us consider these dreadful sums. The paper and a pencil will do."
He put down quite a sum in addition. There were several nines and sevens in it.
She drew a long breath.
"It is a big sum. I haven't done any as large as that."
"Well, begin. Add as I call them off."
Alas! After three figures, in puzzling over an eight, the amount went out of her mind and she had to begin again. Uncle Winthrop made a mark at one figure and put down the amount beside it. After a while she reached the top of the column. Clearly heaven had not meant her for a mathematician. There was no rapport between her figures.