s cogitations.

It was brought to me again. "Take it to the usher," said I.

"It is of no use; he don't know anything about it."

"Take it then to Monsieur Cherfeuil, and tell him so."

This advice was overheard by the party most concerned, and he called the
boy to him, who shortly returned to me with a note, full of friendship,
apology, and sorrow; ending with an earnest request that I would again
put him right with Mrs Causand, as well as the sum on the slate. I
replied, for I was still a little angry, that he was very ungrateful,
but that, as we were so soon to part, perhaps for ever, I accepted the
reconciliation. So far was well. I told Mrs Causand what had passed,
and then interceded with her for her forgiveness; for her anger debarred
him from many comforts, as it obliged him to take his solitary tea and
supper in the schoolroom. She consented, as she did to almost
everything that I requested of her; and that afternoon I brought up to
her the penitent hand-presser. Her natural good temper, and blandness
of manner, soon put him again at his ease, and his love-speeches flowed
as fluently as ever.

We proposed a walk; and, accompanied by some half-dozen of the elder
boys, we began to stroll upon the common. By some _gaucherie_ the
conversation took a disagreeable turn on our late misunderstanding, and
I could not help repeating what I had said in my note, that Mr Rip had
proved himself ungrateful, considering the many difficulties from which
I had extricated him. At this last assertion before the lady, he took
fire, and flatly denied it. I was too proud to enumerate the many
instances of scholastic assistance that he had received at my hands, so
I became sullen and silent, my opponent in an equal degree brisk and
loquacious. My fair companion rather enjoyed the encounter, and began
to tally me.

"Come, come," said I, "I'll lay him a crown that he will beg me to
extricate him from some difficulty before the week's over."

The wager was accepted with alacrity, and Mrs Causand begged to lay an
equal stake against me, which I took. I then purposely turned the
conversation; and after some time, when we were fairly in the hollow
made by the surrounding hills, I exclaimed, "Rip, if you'll give me
five-and-twenty yards, I'll run you three hops and a step, a hundred
yards, for another crown."

"Done, done!" exclaimed the usher, joyously, chuckling with the idea of
exhibiting so triumphantly his prowess be