"He's teaching the children. They don't seem to get much time, someway, in the morning, so they begin right after dinner and study till supper time. I'm so glad to have Robert here—he's doing wonders with them."
"He seems nice," said Beatrice, "and I like him. Can't I go with you, Aunt Eleanor?"
"No, dear—somebody has to stay with the baby. He's asleep, though, and I don't think he'll trouble you."
"I'll take care of him, Aunty. Don't fret about us."
Nevertheless, the house seemed very lonely to Beatrice after Mrs. Mackenzie went away, and she roamed about restlessly. For a time she amused herself by examining the articles on the depleted shelves behind the counters, but the interest soon vanished. She could find nothing to read except a soiled and ragged copy of a paper three months old, which she had already seen at Fort Wayne. The murmur of voices from a distant room, reached her ears with sudden and attractive significance, and her face brightened.
"I don't know as I should do it," she said to herself, but she went to the door and tapped softly.
Robert opened it, in surprise, and Beatrice stepped into the room. "I've come to visit the school," she said.
"Goody!" cried Johnny.
She seated herself on the window ledge and smiled radiantly at the embarrassed teacher. Discipline had been difficult from the beginning, and the guest made matters worse.
"Now, then, Johnny," Forsyth said, "what were we studying?"