"Edward, I ask you once more for the souls of these children!"
"Nonsense," answered Levis. "Their souls aren't mine! If you're going home, you'd better let me drive you down."
Grandfather made a rejecting gesture and walked toward the door. Then he saw that Amos had not risen, but sat, turned in his chair, looking at a little table by the window upon which lay several schoolbooks, a tablet, and two pencils. There was also a glass of water with a few rosebuds in it. A sharp suspicion shot through Amos's heart. Was Ellen studying in advance of her class? Then she would not come back! Burning red dyed his cheeks; he felt that Grandfather and Levis must both be able to read in his heart the emotions which boiled and raged there, putting his salvation in jeopardy.
"Is Ellen studying in summer?" he asked tremulously. "These look like her books."
"Yes," answered Levis. "You've given her a good foundation, Amos, and she has a good mind. But she must move more rapidly, or she'll get into lazy habits."
"I could give her extra work," offered Amos, trembling.
"It isn't fair to ask you to do that. I'll teach her myself till she goes away."
"Is she going away?" asked Amos.
"She'll have to go to finish her education."