MR. COTTENHAM was unable to show them the experiments he had promised, as he was engaged all the evening, so they went home after tea. A week later they again went to see him.
“I was very sorry, Walter,” he said, “to disappoint you last week; but I have everything ready this time.”
“Take care!” said the parrot; “wipe your boots!”
“A very good hint!” laughed Mr. Cottenham.
As it was a lovely April day, and quite warm, they had tea in the summer-house. Mr. Cottenham was very proud of his garden, in which he spent most of his leisure time, working very hard to keep it tidy and full of the best flowers of the season. There were already many flowers in bloom, and the view across the river towards the grand old cathedral was very fine.
“Steve,” he said, when they were about to sit down to tea together—Poll was also there, and Alfred had gone to fetch Rover, the big dog, from his kennel—“Steve, when I was in the old book-shop, looking at some works on gardening, one of your boys came in; his name, I think, is Cox; his father is agent for an insurance company. He is about your height, and has red hair.”
“Yes, sir, that is Harry Cox,” replied Steve.
“What arithmetic do you use?”
Steve named the book they used.
“Alfred told me all about the trouble he got into with Mr. Harmer, when he found a page of answers to his sums in his exercise book,” said Mr. Cottenham. “When I heard a boy ask for an arithmetic book with answers, and saw that it was one of your boys, I noted what occurred. Mr. Thrupp, the bookseller, found him a copy, and told him it would be two shillings. It was a second-hand book. He bought it and took it away with him. I did not say anything, but you, Walter and Steve, should watch and see if his sums are right now.”