'Come—how now, my children?' said a voice beside them; 'why are you not running about, instead of sitting there like two old invalids?'
'We are so tired,' said both together, looking up at the new-comer, who was none other than the short, stout old gentleman who had been introduced to them as Lady Venelda's physician.
'Tired; ah, well, to be sure, you have had a long journey.'
'It is not only that. We weren't so tired this morning, but we've had such a lot of lessons.' 'Mademoiselle Delphine's French is very hard,' said Maia; 'and Mr.—I forget his name—the chaplain says the Latin words quite differently from what I've learnt before,' added Rollo.
The old doctor looked at them both attentively.
'Come, come, my children, you must not lose heart. What would you say to a long afternoon in the woods and no more lessons to-day, if I were to ask the Lady Venelda to give you a holiday?'
The effect was instantaneous. Both children jumped up and clapped their hands.
'Oh, thank you, thank you, Mr.—Doctor,' they said, for they had not heard his name. 'Yes, that is just what we would like. It did not seem any good to go to the woods for just an hour or two. And, oh, Mr. Doctor, do ask our cousin to give us one holiday a week—we always have that at home. It is so nice to wake up in the morning and know there are no lessons to do! And we should be so good all the other days.'
'Ah, well,' said the old doctor, 'we shall see.'
But he nodded his head, and smiled, and looked so like a good-natured old owl, that Rollo and Maia felt very hopeful.