"Do they learn as much there as at the Training School?"
"No; but they learn that which will afterwards be of use."
"Do they get numbers there?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"I should like to be amongst the first."
"You can be that without numbers."
They were silent again till they came in sight of the little farm; they could see a light shining from the room; the overhanging mountains looked black in the Winter evening, the lake below was one blank sheet of ice, and the moon reflected the shadow of the pine trees.
"It is a beautiful place!" said the schoolmaster.
Ovind could sometimes see it with the same eyes as when his mother told him stories, and as when they played with the sledges; this he did now,--all looked pleasing and bright.
"Yes, it is beautiful," said he, but sighed.