"Madeline Amelia Clyde," was the meek reply, which Guy quickly

recorded.

Now, Guy Remington intended no irreverence; indeed, he could not tell

what he did intend, or what it was which prompted his next query: "Who gave you this name?"

Perhaps he fancied himself a boy again in the Sunday school, and

standing before the railing of the altar, where, with others of his

age, he had been asked the question propounded to Madeline Clyde, who

did not hear the doctor's smothered laugh as he retreated into the

adjoining room.

In all her preconceived ideas of this examination, she had never

dreamed of being catechised, and with a feeling of terror as she

thought of that long answer to the question, "What is thy duty to thy

neighbor?" and doubted her ability to repeat it, she said: "My

sponsors, in baptism gave me the first name of Madeline Amelia, sir,"

adding, as she caught and misconstrued the strange gleam in the dark

eyes bent upon her, "I am afraid I have forgotten some of the

catechism; I did not know it was necessary in order to teach school."

"Certainly, no; I do not think it is. I beg your pardon," were Guy

Remington's ejaculatory replies, as he glanced from Madeline to the

open door of the adjoining room, where was visible a slate, on which,

in huge letters, the amused doctor had written "Blockhead."

There was something in Madeline's quiet, womanly, earnest manner which

commanded Guy's respect, or he would have given vent to the laughter

which was choking him, and thrown off his disguise. But he could not

bear now to undeceive her, and, resolutely turning his back upon the

doctor, he sat down by that pile of books and commenced the

examination in earnest, asking first her age.

"Going on fifteen," sounded older to Madeline than "Fourteen and a

half," so "Going on fifteen" was the reply, to which Guy responded:

"That is very young, Miss Clyde."

"Yes, but Mr. Green did not mind. He's the committeeman. He knew how

young I was," Madeline said, eagerly, her great brown eyes growing

large with the look of fear which came so suddenly into them.

Guy noticed the eyes then, and thought them very bright and handsome

for brown, but not so bright or handsome as a certain pair of soft

blue orbs he knew, and feeling a thrill of satisfaction that sweet

Lucy Atherstone was not obliged to sit there in that doctor's office

to be questioned by him or any other man, he said: "Of course, if your

employers are satisfied it is nothing to me, only I had associated

teaching with women much older than yourself. What is logic, Miss

Clyde?"




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024