“I’m going to see if there are other boys with slates and pencils,” said David, turning the leaves. There lay the dust-cloth beside him, but he never thought of that. And as he couldn’t read very much, but had to study each letter carefully, he didn’t get on very fast, especially as there was a picture on every other page. And of course he must see what the big letters opposite said it was all about.
The first thing he knew there were some steps coming up the attic stairs.
David’s head came up suddenly, and the old book slipped away from his grasp.
“My mother says you are to come down to dinner,” said Peletiah, coming slowly up.
David stared at him. Then his little face got hot all over.
“My mother says you are to come down to dinner,” said the parson’s son.
“I—I can’t,” said David miserably, and his head hung down.
“My mother says you are to come down to dinner,” Peletiah said, exactly as if giving the message for the first time.
“No, no,” said David, unable to see anything but the idle dust-cloth lying on the floor.
“My mother says—” began the parson’s son, not moving from his tracks.