“I should like to begin you with Greek, and teach you a little mathematics—geometry first of all.”
“You frighten me!”
“Your fright wouldn’t outlast the beginning,” said Donal. “Anyhow, you will have Davie and me for company! You must be lonely sometimes! You see little of Miss Carmichael now, I fancy.”
“She has not been near me since that day in the avenue! We salute now and then coming out of church. She will not come again except I ask her; and I shall be in no haste: she would only assume I was sorry, and could not do without her!”
“I should let her wait, my lady!” said Donal. “She sorely wants humbling!”
“You do not know her, Mr. Grant, if you think anything I could do would have that effect on her.”
“Pardon me, my lady; I did not imagine it your task to humble her! But you need not let her ride over you as she used to do; she knows nothing really, and a great many things unreally. Unreal knowledge is worse than ignorance.—Would not Miss Graeme be a better friend?”
“She is much more lovable; but she does not trouble her head about the things I care for.—I mean religion,” she added hesitatingly.
“So much the better,—”
“Mr. Grant!”