With her heart swelling with gratitude for this unexpected kindness, Ellen took her books from her satchel and began to study her lesson.
Frank presently approached and said, gayly, "How bright and happy you look to-day! I began to be afraid, yesterday, that I shouldn't like you. I thought you were dumpish and moping; but now I think I shall like you first-rate, almost as much as I do Mary."
"Please remember, my son," remarked his mother, with a smile, "that you are not now under oath to tell all the truth."
The boy laughed aloud; but Ellen looked puzzled.
"I don't know what you mean," she said.
"Well, Frank knows, which is enough for this morning. Some other time I will explain my meaning to you. You have but little more than an hour for your lessons."
"I hate sums!" she exclaimed, presently. "And I don't see how four-sixteenths and two-eights, and ever so many more fractions, are to be reduced to a common denominator."
"Let me help you!" cried Frank. "I'll make it as clear as noon-day, as our master says."
"Oh, I do see! I understand now," she cried, gayly clapping her hands, after his patient and repeated explanation. "I see how they're done. They're just as easy—"
"As 'tis for puss to lick her tail, when you once know how," said Frank, with mock gravity. "Now you can do them on the run."