The young man looked at her, somewhat amused, but not immediately ready with an answer.
'Wouldn't she like you to give me lessons?'
'I never asked her,' he answered gravely.
Esther looked at him, inquiring and uncertain.
'I never asked her whether I might take lessons from your father, either.'
'No, of course not; but'—
'But what?'
'I don't know. I don't want to do it if she would not like it.'
'Why shouldn't she like it? She has nothing to do with it. It is I who am going to give you the lessons, not she. And now for a lesson in botany.'
He brought out a quantity of his dried flowers, beautifully preserved and arranged; and showed Esther one or two groups of plants, giving her various initiatory instruction by the way. It was a most delightful half hour to the little girl; and she went home after it, with her Latin grammar in her hands, very much aroused and wakened up and cheered from her dull condition of despondency; just what Pitt had intended.