He saw that the old man looked at Nell, and added,—
"I shall be glad to have your young companion with me for one day. If you can do a charity to a lone man, and rest yourself at the same time, do so. But if you must go again upon your journey, I wish you well through it, and will walk a little way with you before school begins."
"What are we to do, Nell?" said the old man in great doubt. "Say what we're to do, dear."
Nell was only too glad to stay. She was happy to show how thankful she was to the kind schoolmaster by doing such household duties as his little cottage stood in need of. When these were done she took some needlework from her basket and sat down upon a stool beside the window. Her grandfather was resting in the sun outside, and idly watching the clouds as they floated on before the light summer wind.
As the schoolmaster took his seat behind his desk to begin the day's work, the child was afraid that she might be in the way, and offered to go to her little bedroom. But this he would not allow; and as he seemed pleased to have her there, she stayed, busying herself with her work.
"Have you many scholars, sir?" she asked.
The poor schoolmaster shook his head, and said that they barely filled the two forms.
"Are the others clever, sir?" asked the child, glancing at the wall.
"Good boys," returned the schoolmaster. "good boys enough, my dear; but they'll never do like that."
At the top of the first form—the post of honour in the school—was the empty place of the little sick scholar, and at the head of the row of pegs on which hats or caps were hung, one was empty.