16 ROBERT DAWSON.

class. Father will help me out of this, I know,” said. .
i with a nod and a wink.

“Why, Robert, he never does help you in test sums.
He says you can and you must do them yourself.”

“And you know father never alters his mind,” added
Mary.

“But I am up at the head now, Mary; father would
rather help me than let me go down, I guess; right in
the face and eyes of the committee, too; would he not,
mother?” 7

“Would he not be likely to think, if you cannot
maintain your place by yourself, that you are not worthy
of it?” asked my mother, looking up from her work.
This reasoning was so exactly like father’s, that I turned
towards the slate, read the sum to myself and then read
it aloud, and put the figures on the slate; but all the
while I was inwardly declaring I could not do it. Of
what use is effort, unless one believes that effort can
accomplish something ? .

The sum remained as intricate as ever. In fact, I

would not make the exertion even of ¢rying fairly and

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