lively and agile, trim, neat and beautifully rounded, breathing always
of fragrant and exuberant health.

"Sit down beside me on the steps here, Rita," I said. "I want to talk
to you. That is why I put the flag up.

"Rita,--what would you give to have your grand-dad renounce his vow
some day and begin speaking to your grandmother as if nothing had ever
been amiss?"

She looked at me and her lips trembled.

"Say, George! Don't fool me. I ain't myself on that subject."

"What would you give, Rita?"

"I'd give anything. I'd pretty near give my life, George; for
grandmother would be happier'n an angel."

"Would you help, if some one knew a way?"

"George,--sure you ain't foolin'? True,--you ain't foolin'?"

For answer, I plunged into the scheme.

"Now,--all we require of you and your grandmother is to sit tight and
neither to say nor do anything that would interfere. Leave it
to--leave it to the minister. He is doing this, and he believes that
it is the only way to bring your grand-dad to his senses. Mr. Auld has
already tried everything else he can think of."

"It won't kill grand-dad, though?" she inquired.

"Kill him,--no! Why! it won't even hurt him, unless, maybe, his pride.

"Do you agree, Rita?"

"Sure!" she said. "But--if you or Mr. Auld hurt my grand-dad, I guess
I'll kill you both,--see."

Her eyes flashed for a second and I could tell she was in deadly
earnest over it. But she soon laughed and became happy once more.

"Rita,--would you like to be able to talk English,--proper
English,--just as it should be talked? Would you care to learn English
Grammar?" I asked, changing the subject partly.

She came close to me on the veranda steps with a jump.

"Say that over again, George. I want to get it right," she said
plaintively.

"Would you like me to teach you English Grammar, Rita?" I repeated.

"Would I? Oh! wouldn't I just!"

She looked away quickly. "You wouldn't waste your time teachin' the
likes of me."

"I have been through college. I know something of English Grammar and
English Literature. It would be the pleasure of my life to be
permitted to impart some of what I know to you."

"Oh!--but it would take years, and years, and--then some," she put in.

"Not a bit of it! It would take an hour or two of an evening, maybe
twice a week. That is all,--provided you went over and learned in
between times all that was given you to master."

"Gee! I could do that. Y