“For certain reasons, which I will not now mention,” said Mr. Minford, “I am anxious to hurry up her education.”

“By the way, what is your first name, my dear?” asked Miss Pillbody.  “It is quite awkward to call you Miss Minford, you know.”

The inventor answered for his daughter.  “Her name is Patty, miss; and we call her Pet, for short, instead of Pat, which would be hardly appropriate.”

“A pretty name,” said Miss Pillbody; “and she is a pet, if I mistake not.”  The teacher looked archly at Mr. Minford, and then affectionately at the daughter, through her half-shut eyes.  “I promise you she shall be a pet here, provided, always, she learns her lessons like a good girl.  We always insist on that first.”  The teacher waved her hand with magisterial authority as she spoke, but accompanied the act with a laugh, which made Pet laugh also.

During this conversation, Mr. Minford had dwelt upon his machine in an undercurrent of thought; and an idea just then occurred to him, which he was desirous to test immediately.  He therefore rose, and said that they would not detain Miss Pillbody any longer, and that his daughter would call and receive the first lesson at any time which that lady would name.

“Her hour will be from nine to ten o’clock every other morning, and from three to four on alternate afternoons,” said Miss Pillbody.  “It is now half past ten,” she added, consulting a watch.  “Mrs. Penfeather, my eleven-o’clock pupil, is put of town to-day:  so Miss Minford—­that is.  Pet—­can commence now, and I will give her until twelve o’clock.  This will save time.”

“Good!” remarked the inventor.  “The great point is to save time.  For certain reasons, as I said before, you have none to lose in educating my daughter.  And, that we may not detain her a moment, Mr. Wilkeson, we will leave, if you please.”

Marcus Wilkeson was glad to do this, for the conversation had already reached its natural terminus.  He therefore followed Mr. Minford’s motion, and grasped his hat and cane.

“You are not afraid to stay here, child?” said-the inventor.

“Oh, no,” replied Pet, with a happy laugh.  “I already feel quite at home.”

“And she shall always feel so here, I assure you, sir,” added Miss Pillbody.

Mr. Minford’s new idea occurred to him again with fresh force, and he hurriedly said:  “Good-by, Pet.  Be a good girl, now, and see how much you can learn in your first lesson.”  Then he kissed her, jerked a bow at Miss Pillbody, and made his exit into the hall.  Marcus Wilkeson added his best wishes for the progress of the little scholar, bade her and her teacher a pleasant farewell, and followed Mr. Minford.

The child ran after them to the front door, and exchanged good-bys with them until they had turned the corner of the next street, when she entered the schoolroom, and straightway began her first lesson in the accomplishments of life.