"Bring your book to me," I ventured to say, (I knew I had an hour to myself at this time) "and, with Mistress Curtis's leave, I will see if I can help you." "Do so, Roger, since Mistress Corbet is so kind," added Mistress Curtis. The little fellow—he was no more than seven years old—brightened up and ran off for his book. "Law's me, Mistress Corbet, what pleasure can there be in spending your play-hour over a Latin grammar and a stupid lad?" said Mrs. Mandeville. "Oh I like teaching, and I remember mine own troubles with these same declensions," said I; and little Roger returning, I took him into the window-seat and soon made his way plain for him. "Thank you, madam," said the child, gratefully. "I wish I might do my lessons with you every day. Master Sprat is so cross, and when I am puzzled, he says I could learn if I would—but I can't learn unless I understand. But he is going away to his now cure—much good may it do him," said Roger, brightening up, "and perhaps Master Corbet may be more good-natured." "Corbet!" said I. "That is my name." "It is our new master's name, too, and we are to begin with him to-morrow." "Then see that you have your task well conned, so as not to shame your mistress," said I. He was such a baby that I could not forbear kissing his round, fair cheek. Then I betook myself to Mistress Curtis's parlor, where I found her, and also Mistress Mandeville, who was making a kerchief at the rate of ten stitches a minute, and lifting every one as though she were prying up stones with a crowbar. It did always make me ache to see her sew. "Well and what of your pupil?" asked Mistress Curtis. "Oh, I have sent him away happy," said I. "'Tis a fine little lad, though he says his master calls him stupid because he can not learn what he does not understand." "I dare say. He is a crabbed, austere man, soured by poverty and hard study before he came here, and his temper is not sweetened by the tricks the mischievous lads play on him. But he goes away very soon to some benefice or other. By the way, the new tutor has the same name as your own." "So little Roger tells me," said I. "I had a distant cousin of that name, my Lady Peckham's son, who went to study for a priest. I wonder if this could possibly be the same?" "This young man hath come up to London, as understand, to study the Hebrew tongue," said Mistress Curtis. "Dear me, why should he want to learn Hebrew?" asked Mrs. Mandeville. "He is not a Jew, is he?" "If he were, he would probably know Hebrew without learning it," answered Mistress Curtis. (Somehow Mrs. Mandeville's stupid speeches always did seem to put her out of temper.) "I suppose he wishes to study the Scripture in the original tongue." "Well, I would not like to know so many strange tongues and things. I should be afraid of being burned for a wizard."