"Yes, lots," speaking a little crossly, for he wanted to go on with his work; "I can't get this one I'm at, to save my head."
"Suppose I see what is the matter." And Bay drew a chair to the table and sat down, glancing his eye over the slate.
"Rather, suppose you see for yourself," he said in a few moments. "Just run over that multiplication at the top of the slate."
"Oh, bother!" Edward said, after he had obeyed orders; "that figure three has made me all this trouble."
"Smaller things than figure threes make trouble. Have you been to school lately?"
"Always, till I came here; but I might just as well have been out until last winter."
"What happened last winter?"
"Lots of things," answered Edward, with brightening eyes. But he didn't seem disposed to state any of them; so, after waiting a little, Ray asked,—
"Wouldn't you get on faster with your books if you had a teacher?"
"Think likely I should; but I haven't got any, so I'll have to get on as fast as I can."