"Edward, Ray has come! Come over here and see him." "Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn, as Edward stood still, with very red cheeks; and Ray sat up and held out his hand. "How do you do, Edward? Alice has been making me acquainted with you this afternoon, so you're not a stranger." How very clear and kind his tones were! Edward was astonished. That same evening he was more astonished. He was in the library, at work over his books; Mr. Minturn had to go to a committee meeting, expecting to be detained late; as he arose from the dinner-table, he said,-- "How am I to get in to-night? Here's my night-key in two pieces." "I'll be night-key, sir," said Edward promptly. "Well, you may; you can take your books to the library, and have a long evening to pore over them." So he was there, poring over them with all his might, when the door opened gently, and Ray Minturn came in. "Are you hard at work?" he asked kindly. "Yes, sir," said Edward, wishing he would go out again. But he didn't seem in a hurry to do so; he took a book from the case, and glanced over it a moment, then came towards Edward. "What are you studying?" "Fractions," answered Edward briefly. "Do you have any trouble?" "Yes, lots," speaking a little crossly, for he wanted to go on with his work; "I can't get this one I'm at, to save my head." "Suppose I see what is the matter." And Bay drew a chair to the table and sat down, glancing his eye over the slate. "Rather, suppose you see for yourself," he said in a few moments. "Just run over that multiplication at the top of the slate." "Oh, bother!" Edward said, after he had obeyed orders; "that figure three has made me all this trouble." "Smaller things than figure threes make trouble. Have you been to school lately?" "Always, till I came here; but I might just as well have been out until last winter." "What happened last winter?" "Lots of things," answered Edward, with brightening eyes. But he didn't seem disposed to state any of them; so, after waiting a little, Ray asked,-- "Wouldn't you get on faster with your books if you had a teacher?" "Think likely I should; but I haven't got any, so I'll have to get on as fast as I can." "How would it do if I should play teacher while I am at home, and give you the hour from nine till ten?" Edward laid down his pencil, turned his eyes for the first time full upon Kay, and looked at him in silent astonishment. "Do you mean it?" he asked at last. "Certainly I do; I shouldn't say so if I didn't. Don't you think you would like it?" "Like it! I guess I would. But I don't know--What do you do it for?" "Because I am glad to help a boy who seems to be trying to help himself. We will consider it settled, then. It is ten o'clock; will you come out to prayers now?" And at this the astonished look on Edward's face deepened. "Is Mr. Minturn here?" he asked. "No; but his son is. Are you so surprised that I should have prayers in my father's absence?"