'Is this an average specimen of your reception of your scholars?'
'I was afraid of his waking the child. She has been unwell all day, and I have scarcely persuaded her to go to sleep.'
'Emulating Hooker.'
'As little in patience as in judgment,' sighed James.
'And which of them is it who is lulled by the strains of 'As in proesenti?''
'Which?' said James, somewhat affronted. 'Can't you tell sixteen months from five?'
'I beg her pardon; but I can't construct a whole child from an inch of mottled leg—as Professor Owen would a megalosaurus from a tooth. Does she walk?'
'Poor child, she must!' said James. 'She thinks it very hard to have two sisters so little younger than herself,' and he peeped under the plaid at the little brown head, and drew it closer round, with a look of almost melancholy tenderness, guarding carefully against touching her with his cold hands.
'She will think it all the better by-and-by,' said Louis.
'You had better not stay here in the cold. I'll come when I have heard that boy's imposition and looked over these exercises.' And he ran his hand through his hair again.