to
tear it up, when the door opened and Dr Grayson entered.

"Well," he said pleasantly, "and how are we getting on?"

"Getting on, sir?" said Mr Limpney tartly. "Will you have the goodness
to ask my pupil!"

"To be sure--to be sure," said the doctor. "Well, Dexter, how are you
getting on? Eh? what's this? Oh, Algebra!" he continued, as he took
the half-sheet of paper covered with the boy's calligraphy. "Oh,
Algebra! Hah! I never was much of a fist at that."

"Only simple equations, sir," said the tutor.

"Ah, yes. Simple equations. Well, Dexter, how are you getting on?"

"Very badly, sir."

"Badly? Nonsense!"

"But I am, sir. These things puzzle me dreadfully. I'm so stupid."

"Stupid? Nonsense! Nothing of the kind. Scarcely anybody is stupid.
Men who can't understand some things understand others. Now, let's see.
What is the question? H'm! ah! yes, oranges. H'm! ah! yes; not
difficult, I suppose, when you know how. And--what's this? London and
York--stage-coaches. Nine and a half miles, nine and a quarter miles,
and--er--h'm, yes, of course, where would they meet?"

"Peterborough, sir," said Mr Limpney sarcastically, and with a peculiar
look at Dexter.

"H'm! would they now?" said the doctor. "Well, I shouldn't have thought
it! And how is he getting on with his Latin, Mr Limpney!"

"Horribly, sir!" exclaimed the tutor sharply. "I am very glad you have
come, for I really feel it to be my duty to complain to you of the great
want of diligence displayed by my pupil."

"Dear me! I am very sorry," exclaimed the doctor. "Why, Dexter, my
boy, how's this? You promised me that you would be attentive."

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Then why are you not attentive?"

"I do try to be, sir."

"But if you were, Mr Limpney would not have cause to complain. It's
too bad, Dexter, too bad. Do you know why Mr Limpney comes here?"

"Yes, sir," said the boy dismally; "to teach me."

"And you do not take advantage of his teaching. This is very serious.
Very sad indeed."

"I am sure, Dr Grayson, that no tutor could have taken more pains than
I have to impart to him the various branches of a liberal education; but
after all these months of teaching it really seems to me that we are
further behind. He is not a dull boy."

"Certainly not. By no means," said the doctor.

"And I do not give him tasks beyond his powers."

"I hope not, I am sure," said the doctor.

"And yet not the slightest pr