"Here are the drawing instruments I promised you."
"Here are the drawing instruments I promised you," he said, "and I daresay I shall look in this evening and see how you all get on."
Squire Forbes called at the yard during the day to give some further directions about his greenhouse.
"I have tried again, sir," said Walter to him, "and it's of no use; Frank won't join."
"It's his loss, then," said the Squire, "and you have done your duty."
When Walter left the yard that evening, he hurried home to his tea; and then, having "tidied himself," as he called it, he went towards the school-house in which the classes were to be held.
It was nearly dark when he passed through the village, but he saw Frank lounging against a gate at the corner of the little lane which led to the Mill Cottage. Tom Haines was with him, and Walter heard them laughing as he passed.
He seemed not to notice the laugh, however, and called out "Good evening," in his usual tone.
The only answer was another laugh.
Walter passed on without taking any further notice of them. A saying of his mother's—"Let those laugh that win" recurred to his mind, and he felt that he had more real cause for merriment than they had.