"You mought let me off this once, anyways," he sobbed.
"But why should I?" inquired Ishmael.
"A-cause of the pretty lady a-coming."
Ishmael laughed, and for a moment entertained the thought of admitting this plea and letting the pleader go. But Ishmael was really too conscientious to suffer himself to be lured aside from the strict line of duty by any passing fancy or caprice; so he answered:
"Your plea is an ingenious one, Eddy; and since you have wit enough to make it, you must have sense enough to learn your lesson. Come, now, let us sit down and put our heads together, and try again, and see what we can do."
And with the kindness for which he was ever noted, the young master sat down beside his stupid pupil and patiently went over and over the lesson with him, until he had succeeded in getting it into Eddy's thick head.
"There, now! now you know the difference between a common noun and a proper one! are you not glad?" asked Ishmael, smiling.
"Yes; but they'll all be done supper, and the hominy'll be cold!" said the boy sulkily.
"Oh, no, it will not. I know all about the boiling of hominy. They'll keep the pot hanging over the fire until bed-time, so you can have yours hot as soon as you get home. Off with you, now!" laughed Ishmael.
His hopeful pupil lost no time in obeying the order, but set off on a run.