You know I was an hour last night writing your
theme; and, Churchill, I do not think it is right."

"Oh stuff! who's been putting that nonsense into your head?" replied
Churchill. "It's all right and good, and like your own self, you're
such a good-natured fellow."

"And a very foolish one, sometimes," said Louis. "Can't you get somebody
else to show you?"

"Goodness gracious!" cried Churchill, "who do you think would do it
now? and no one does it so well as you. Come, I say--come now--that's
a good fellow,--now do."

"But how is it that you want to learn your lesson now," asked Louis?
"Won't the evening do?"

"No; Dr. Wilkinson has given me leave to go out with my uncle this
afternoon, if I learn this and say it to old Norton before I go; and
I am sure I shan't get it done if you don't help me."

"I cannot," said poor Louis.

"Now I know you're too good-natured to let me lose this afternoon's fun.
Come, you might have told me half."

And against his better judgment, Louis spent half an hour in hearing
this idle youth a lesson, which, with a little extra trouble he might
easily have mastered himself in three quarters of an hour.

"Thank you, Louis, you're a capital fellow; I know it now, don't I?"

"I think so," replied Louis; "and now you must not talk to me."

"What are you doing?" said Churchill, looking at his book; "oh,
'Kenrick's Greek Exercises.' If I can't tell you, I can help you
to something that will. Here's a key." As he spoke, he took down
the identical book taken from Harrison on the day of Louis' arrival,
and threw it on the table before him.

"Is that a key?" asked Louis, opening the book; "put it back, Harry,
I cannot use it."

"Why not?"

"It would not be right. Oh no! I will not, Churchill; put it up."

"How precise you are!" said Churchill; "it's quite a common thing for
those who can get them--Thompson and Harcourt always use one."

"Thompson ought to be ashamed of himself," cried Louis, "to be trying
for a prize, and use a key."

"Well, so he ought, but you won't get a prize if you begin now, and
try till breaking-up day; so you hurt nobody, and get yourself out of
a scrape. Don't be a donkey, Louis."

When Churchill left him alone Louis looked at the title-page, and
felt for an instant strongly tempted to avail himself of the assistance
of the book; but something checked him, and he laid his arms suddenly
on the table, and buried his face on them. A heavy hand laid on his
s