"That'll be on Thursday," said Lottie, who had been looking at her time-table, for Dora had presented each of her pupils with a copy. "I wish we could have it to-morrow instead."
It was very pleasant to Dora to hear that her efforts had been appreciated, and she began to think that teaching was one of the most delightful things in the world. For her part she would have been very willing to go on with lessons until dinner-time, but the recollection of her resolve to be methodical made her say that books must be put aside, and that her pupils must get ready for a walk.
At this moment there was a tap at the door, and without waiting for permission to enter, Robert came in.
"I knew school was over," he said, "by the noise I heard. Giles, would you like me to help you with your Latin declensions, and look over the exercises you have written?"
That Giles was grateful for this offer of assistance was very plain, and as he could go out after afternoon lessons as well as then, he was allowed to follow his own inclinations.
This was not the first occasion on which Robert had done a similar act of kindness. On that morning, when Giles had made up his mind to go on with the studies he had discontinued on his removal from school, he had asked his brother the pronunciation of a certain Latin noun of the third declension. Robert not only gave the information, but asked why Giles wished to know, and on being told, instantly volunteered to give any help in his power.
But though the offer was at once accepted, it was certainly unexpected. Like most weak characters, Robert was selfish, and instead of giving pleasure to the brother, who was only three years his junior, by making him his companion after school hours and during holidays, he treated him with an indifference and neglect which would have been very galling to one more sensitive than Giles. As it was, the younger boy frequently wished Robert "wouldn't snub a fellow like that." Therefore to meet with sympathy and as much practical aid as he liked to ask for was indeed a surprise.
But in many respects Robert had behaved differently during the last week of his holidays. Instead of going off for hours together with some of his schoolfellows, as was usually his custom, he stayed in the house and worked industriously at his "holiday task," or amused himself with some other quiet occupation. He devoted one entire morning to mending a chair that had a broken back, and was actually seen gumming the dilapidated cover to one of his badly used school books. On the Tuesday his holidays would be over, and that he should offer to give up some part of his last day of freedom to help him with his Latin, seemed to Giles especially kind.
HE DEVOTED ONE ENTIRE MORNING TO MENDING A CHAIR.