“Really, my dear! That is fine! If you can do as well with the rest as with that, you will be a grand success, you will, indeed.”
“But I shall not be able. We may as well face that matter first as last. At the beginning I shall be very stupid. I shall spell every Latin name wrong, perhaps, and not know the difference.”
“Ah, my dear! Do you think I have not prepared for that? Why, you must know that the change of a single letter in some names or descriptions would result in the utmost confusion; and in any scientific work perfect orthography is absolutely necessary. But I have picked up a few little primers on the subject of our task, and you are to consult them continually. You will soon see that there is a general principle in the construction of all terms, and that spelling Latin is, after all, easier than spelling English. It is to me. I frequently have to pause to think out an English word, oftentimes the simpler the more puzzling, but a Latin one never.”
“Happy mortal—I mean, sir! I fear I shall be a terrible trial to you. And you must know that you can send me about my business at the first blunder, if you feel so inclined. Dear me! That doesn’t sound right! What I want to say, only I am such an old stupid, is: Please do not let your friendship for us prevent your dismissing me if I don’t suit you.”
“Why! Why, my dear!” exclaimed Mr. Brook, very much surprised. “I thought you were a girl whose vocabulary did not contain the word ‘fail.’”
“It used to be that way. But now—I guess I’m not as conceited as I was awhile ago. The older I get the less I feel that I know. And—”
“Tut, tut! Though that is an excellent state of things, too. There is hope of a person conscious of his own deficiencies. But all this in due time. By the way, have you yet discovered the secret of the linden-trees, the source of your wealth that is to be?”
Beatrice opened her eyes widely at this abrupt change of subject, but answered promptly: “Oh, no, indeed! I had almost forgotten that! But what lovely trees they are! They will soon be in bloom!”
“So I suppose, so I suppose. Therefore we will make our first lesson, or our first day’s work, upon the Apis mellifica. You are upon my mind; after I get your affairs settled more satisfactorily, I shall be better able to attend to my own. Yes, yes, that matter first; the other in due time.”
Bonny could not conceal her astonishment. How Mr. Brook’s talk did wander, from technical and scientific terms to a fable of hidden wealth in a row of old trees! She wondered if her mother had ever observed anything like this, and if that were what she meant when she so earnestly counselled patience. Was her beloved old friend in his second childhood?