‘Oh, Miss Adrian!’ exclaimed Gertie, as with flushed, happy cheeks she sat down by Ruth’s side and gently drew Lion down into his proper place in the ‘class,’ ‘we were afraid you were ill. Lion and I have watched day after day, and we’ve said our lessons over for fear we should forget them.’
It was Gertie’s firm belief that Lion did say his lessons, and that his education was progressing rapidly. If he didn’t understand everything she told him about history and geography, why did he always wag his tail?
‘And do you know, Miss Adrian,’ Gertie went on, when Ruth had explained her absence as well as she could, ‘the parrot’s getting much better. He swears a little still, but I’ve taught him some good words, and he uses them now instead of the bad ones.’
‘Bless your eyes!’ shrieked Polly, rubbing his beak against the cage.
‘That’s much better than what he used to say about our eyes,’ said Gertie, delighted at Polly’s attainments.
‘Very much,’ answered Miss Adrian, with a smile. ‘But I suppose he isn’t quite cured yet.’
‘Oh, no, not quite, but nearly. You know I fancy grandfather made him swear, and grandfather’s very little here now. Since that gentleman——’
Gertie hesitated. Child as she was she remembered that Miss Adrian had seemed distressed at the sight of Marston.
‘Go on,’ said Ruth, taking Gertie’s hand in hers and listening with a heightened colour. ‘What about that gentleman?’
‘Well, since he came grandfather’s been out a good deal, and I fancy they’ve got important business together.’