"Well, that is awfully funny," said Dudley, pointing down to the pine
woods opposite them. "Talk of him and there he is! Isn't that him
walking along over there? Look--now he's stooping down to look at
something. I'm sure it's old Principle; we'll call him!"

Two shrill boyish voices rang out, "Old Principle! Hi! We want you! Old
Principle!"

Soon after old Principle was standing beneath the wall, having obeyed
the summons.

He stood looking up at them with his straw hat pushed to the back of his
head, and his keen, piercing eyes twinkling kindly under his thick,
shaggy eyebrows.

"Well, laddies, you're above me now. 'Tisn't often you can look down at
old Principle from such a superior height."

"We want to ask you if we may send Rob down to you for you to teach him
to read," said Roy, eagerly.

"And why have not two idle boys more time than a busy shopkeeper to do
such a thing?" demanded the old man.

"Oh, well, you see," explained Roy, confusedly; "grown-up people know
how to teach, and boys don't. Besides, we aren't idle, we work hard at
lessons all the morning, and we have half an hour's prep after tea."

Old Principle shook his head.