Without a word Mr. Danvers dropped into the one she had been using. He absolutely forgot that she was a girl; he began to read her translation, pursing up his lips as he did so.
"Good, so far," he said. "Oh, here is a wrong quantity; disgraceful, careless! Aren't you ashamed of yourself to do work of this sort? What will the boys of England come to?"
"But you are scolding a girl of Ireland," said Kate, in a gentle tone.
Mr. Danvers glanced up at her.
"I beg your pardon, miss," he said; "really, women ought not to meddle in matters too deep for them."
"But you will be good-natured and help me, won't you? You may as well do that as nothing, while you are waiting for Maurice; I felt sure I had gone wrong in that line. Will you show me? I shall be so grateful."
"Well, I can't see Homer murdered," exclaimed Mr. Danvers; "so here goes."
"Matilda," said Kate, facing round and looking at Matilda, who was standing in some perplexity near the door, "you are going out, are you not?"
"Yes," said Matilda.
"If you see Maurice, will you kindly tell him that Mr. Danvers has come?"