"And so you are trying to be on the safe side?"
"Not any safe side about it. I was warned, a week ago."
"How horrid!" Cicely said sympathetically. "It won't be any fun at Quantuck without you. I was counting on having you to explore things with, you know. I've never been there."
"You'll have to take it out in counting, then."
"I don't see why. You're only warned, and it's two weeks before examination."
"Yes; but I can't get the blamed stuff into me."
"Perhaps I could help you," she suggested.
"You!" Allyn's tone was not altogether complimentary, and Cicely was uncertain whether she wanted to laugh or to box his ears. "Do you know any German?"
"Papa and I used to talk it a good deal," she said demurely; "and I know something about the grammar."
"Why, I didn't know it. I didn't suppose you knew anything but music." In his honest boyish wonder, Allyn's voice regained something of its old friendliness.