"Oh, Lucy, Mr. Dodd is such a beautiful geometrician! He has been
giving me a lesson; he is going to give me one every day. He knows a
great deal more than my last tutor." On this Master Nelson was
questioned, and revealed that a friendship existed between him and Mr.
Dodd such as girls are incapable of (this was leveled at Lucy); being
cross-examined as to the date of this friendship, he was obliged to
confess that it had only existed four days, but was to last to death.
"But, Arthur," said Lucy, "will not this take up too much of Mr.
Dodd's time? I think you had better consult Uncle Fountain before you
make a positive arrangement of the kind."
"Oh, I have spoken to my guardian about it, and he was _so_
pleased. He said that would save him a mathematical tutor."
"Oh, then," said Mrs. Bazalgette, "Mr. Dodd is to teach mathematics
gratis."
"My friend is a gentleman," was the timid reply. (Juveniles have a
pomposity all their own, and exquisitely delicious.*) "We read
together because we like one another, and that is why we walk together
and play together; if we were to offer him money he would throw it at
our heads." Mr. Arthur then relaxed his severity, and, condescending
once more to the familiar, added: "And he has made me a kite on
mathematical principles--such a whacker--those in the shops are no
use; and he has sent his mother's Bath chair on to the downs, and he
is going to show me the kite draw him ten knots an hour in it--a knot
means a mile, Lucy--so I can't stay wasting my time here; only, if you
want to see some fun for once in your lives, come on the downs in
about an hour--will you? Oh yes! do come!"
* Read the Oxford Essays.
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