"Why, no," said Marco, "I suppose not."
"And yet, if I refuse to answer, it will not be very pleasant to you. It will put you out of humor."
"No," said Marco.
"I will have one invariable answer to give you," said Forester. "It shall be this,--Act according to your own judgment. That will be a little more civil than to take no notice of your question at all, and yet it will preserve our principle,--that I am to give you no assistance except in my half-hour. Then, besides, I will keep an account of the number of questions you ask me, and see if they do not amount to ten."
By this time Forester's half-hour was out, and Marco went to his desk.
"There's one thing," said Marco, "before I begin:--may I have the window open?"
"Act according to your own judgment," said Forester, "and there is one question asked." So Forester made one mark upon a paper which he had upon the table.
"But, cousin Forester, it is not right to count that, for I had not begun."
Forester made no reply, but began arranging his note-books, as if he was about commencing his own studies. Marco looked at him a moment, and then he rose and gently opened the window and began his work.
