escence consequent upon his having been kept
down so long was passing off, and a complete change seemed to be coming
over the boy.

Quicksilver--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE PLEASANT WAYS OF LEARNING.

"Now, Master Grayson," said Mr Limpney, "what am I to say to the
doctor!"

The private tutor threw himself back in his seat in the study, vacated
by the doctor, while Dexter had his lessons, placed his hands behind his
head, and, after wrinkling his forehead in lines from his brow to right
on the top, where the hair began, he stared hard at his pupil.

"I say again, sir, what am I to tell the doctor!"

"I don't know," said Dexter dolefully. Then, plucking up a little
spirit: "I wrote out all my history questions, and did the parsing with
a little help from Miss Grayson, and I did the sum you set me all by
myself."

"Yes; but the Algebra, the Classics, and the Euclid! Where are they?"

"There they are," said Dexter, pointing dismally to some books on the
table.

"Yes, sir, there they are--on that table, when they ought to be in your
head."

"But they won't go in my head, sir," cried Dexter desperately.

"Nonsense, sir! you will not let them, and I warn you plainly, that if
we do not make better progress, I shall tell the doctor that I will not
continue to take his payment for nothing."

"No; I say; don't do that," said Dexter piteously. "He wouldn't like
it."

"I cannot help that, sir. I have my duty to perform. Anybody can do
those childish history and grammatical questions; it is the classical
and mathematical lessons in which I wish you to excel. Now, once more.
No, no, you must not refer to the book. `In any right-angled triangle,
the square of the side--' Now, go on."

Dexter took up a slate and pencil, wrinkled up his forehead as nearly
like the tutor's as he could, and slowly drew a triangle.

"Very good," said Mr Limpney. "Now, go on."

Dexter stared at his sketch, then helplessly at his instructor.

"I ought to write _ABC_ here, oughtn't I, sir?"

"Yes, of course. Go on."

Dexter hesitated, and then put a letter at each corner.

"Well, have it that way if you like," said Mr Limpney.

"I don't like it that way, sir," said Dexter. "I'll put it your way."

"No, no. Go on your way."

"But I haven't got any way, sir," said Dexter desperately.

"Nonsense, nonsense! Go on."

"Please, sir, I can't. I've tried and tried over and over again, but
the a