"Is that why you're crying?" Marigold questioned, for, as a rule, her companion did not take to heart any trouble in connection with her work.
"My head is aching, and I'm so dreadfully hot!"
"Why didn't you tell Miss Smith? Perhaps she would have let you off this once."
"Not she—cross old thing! She said I did not attend when she was explaining the rule, and working the example on the blackboard. However, as I can't work the sum, I suppose I must sit here until she chooses to let me go, or until I melt!"
Marigold laughed; and a slight smile flickered across Muriel's face.
"Would Miss Smith mind if I helped you?" the former inquired.
"Oh, would you, Marigold? No, I don't think Miss Smith would mind. It's not that I won't do the sum, I really can't. I don't know how! See, this is it."
Muriel drew an arithmetic book towards her, and pointed out the sum. It presented no difficulties to Marigold, who was quick at arithmetic, and had been attentive during the lesson that day, whilst Muriel had been gazing idly about the room and not attending to a word the governess had been saying. It had been a hot, trying day for teachers and pupils, so it was small wonder Miss Smith had lost her patience with Muriel, when she had made the discovery that the child knew nothing whatever about the lesson she had been at some pains to make plain and simple for her pupils.
Presently the two heads—one golden, the other brown—were bent together over the hitherto blank sheet of paper; and soon, under Marigold's instructions, Muriel was enabled to understand, and work the sum correctly.
"Thank you, Marigold. I should never have done it but for you," Muriel said, with real gratitude in her voice; adding a little shamefacedly, "It is too bad of me to let you stay in on this broiling afternoon when you might have been out in the fresh air!"