Again I had to confess that he had beaten me.
“Well, your dad can teach you something in history yet,” he cried, looking in triumph at my mother. “Have you learned geography?”
“Yes, father,” said I, though with less confidence than before.
“Well, how far is it from Port Mahon to Algeciras?”
I could only shake my head.
“If Ushant lay three leagues upon your starboard quarter, what would be your nearest English port?”
Again I had to give it up.
“Well, I don’t see that your geography is much better than your history,” said he. “You’d never get your certificate at this rate. Can you do addition? Well, then, let us see if you can tot up my prize-money.”
He shot a mischievous glance at my mother as he spoke, and she laid down her knitting on her lap and looked very earnestly at him.
“You never asked me about that, Mary,” said he.