"
"If I were a coward, you would owe me an apology all the same, and
he is a poor creature who will not pay his debts. But I hope it is
not necessary I should either thrash or insult your lordship to
convince you I fear you no more than that blackbird there!"
Forgue gave a little laugh. A moment's pause followed. Then he
held out his hand, but in a half-hesitating, almost sheepish way:
"Well, well! shake hands," he said.
"No, my lord," returned Donal. "I bear your lordship not the
slightest ill-will, but I will shake hands with no one in a
half-hearted way, and no other way is possible while you are
uncertain whether I am a coward or not."
So saying, he threw himself again upon the grass, and lord Forgue
walked away, offended afresh.
The next morning he came into the school-room where Donal sat at
lessons with Davie. He had a book in his hand.
"Mr. Grant," he said, "will you help me with this passage in
Xenophon?"
"With all my heart," answered Donal, and in a few moments had him
out of his difficulty.
But instead of going, his lordship sat down a little way off, and
went on with his reading--sat until master and pupil went out, and
left him sitting there. The next morning he came with a fresh
request, and Donal found occasion to approve warmly of a translation
he proposed. From that time he came almost every morning. He was
no great scholar, but with the prospect of an English university
before him, thought it better to read a little.
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