That, too, was the way poor Dick Lee came to make so bad a breakdown.  His shining face would have told, even to eyes less practised than those of Dr. Brandegee, exactly the answer, as to kind and readiness, which he would have made to every question put to his white friends.  That is, unless he had been directly called upon to “answer out aloud.”  There is no telling what he would have done in such a case as that.

The doctor found out, for he quietly shifted his last question over Dab’s left shoulder, and let it fall upon Dick in such a way as not to scare him.

“You’s got me, dis time!  Dat’s de berry place whar we stopped at de end of our school, las’ year.”

“Then, I think I know about where it’s best for you to begin.  I’ll have another talk with you about it, Richard.  You must come up and see me again.”

It was not a great deal to say; but the way in which he said it plainly added,—­

“I mean to be your friend, my dear boy.  I’ll do all I can to help you along.”

Dick understood it too, but he was feeling dolefully about his tongue just then.

“Missed fire de fust time!” he said to himself; but he carefully replied, aloud,—­

“Thank you, sir.  Will you tell me when to come?”

“To-night, right away after tea.  Now, young gentlemen, I must bid you good-morning.  Bear in mind that the first law of Grantley Academy is punctuality.  I expect you to be in your places promptly at nine o’clock, Monday morning.”

“We will, sir,” said Dabney.  “But will you please tell us when we are to be examined?”

“I believe, Mr. Kinzer, I have a fair idea of the use you have made of your books up to this time.  No further examination will be necessary.  I will see you all, with others, after school is opened, next Monday.”

They were politely shown out of the library, but they did not clearly comprehend the matter until they had drawn each a good long breath in the open air.

“Dab,” said Ford, “can’t you see it?”

“I’m beginning to.  Seems to me we’ve been through the sharpest examination I ever heard of.  I say, Frank, do you know any thing he didn’t make you tell him?”

“Nothing but Hindustanee and a little Teloogoo.  Well, yes, I know a Karen hymn.  He got all the rest, if I’m not mistaken.”

There was no doubt at all but what Dr. Brandegee had gained a correct view of the attainments of his new pupils.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF INTRODUCTION.

The front door of Dr. Brandegee’s library had hardly closed behind that earliest flock of his autumn birds, before the door by which he had entered swung open, and a fine-looking, middle-aged matron stood in it, remarking,—­

“My dear, there are more than a dozen waiting in the parlor.  Have you not spent a great deal of time on those four?”