Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/184

170 "Courses?" Maisie had never heard of such things.

"At institutions—on subjects."

Maisie continued to stare. "Subjects?"

Mrs. Beale was really splendid. "All the most important ones. French literature and sacred history. You 'll take part in classes with awfully smart children."

"I 'm going to look thoroughly into the whole thing, you know;" and Sir Claude, with characteristic kindness, gave her a nod of assurance accompanied by a friendly wink.

But Mrs. Beale went much further. "My dear child, you shall attend lectures."

The horizon was suddenly vast, and Maisie herself felt the smaller for it. "All alone?"

"Oh, no; I 'll attend them with you," said Sir Claude. "They 'll teach me a lot I don't know."

"So they will me," Mrs. Beale gravely admitted. "We'll go with her together—it will be charming. It 's ages," she confessed to Maisie, "since I 've had any time for study. That 's another sweet way in which you 'll be a motive to us. Oh, won't the good she'll do us be immense?" she broke out uncontrollably to Sir Claude.

He weighed it; then he replied: "That 's