understand anything in his lessons, he always went to Elsli secretly for
help, for he didn't want the big boys to know that he couldn't get along
without it.

Content with this scathing sarcasm, Fred ran on to the house, where
through the open door of the kitchen he saw his aunt standing by the
table, stirring something in a pudding-bowl. She was reading aloud from
a paper that lay on the table before her. "Take four large eggs, two
spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon"; and she started back as
Fred suddenly sprang in with a shout of delight at his good-fortune at
finding her alone. "This is splendid, aunty! Now, just hear this!"

He seated himself on a high stool, spread his book upon his knees and
began:--

"You know that papa once caught a bittern. Well, I want to read you a
description of it. The 'bittern, _Stellaris_,'--are you listening,
aunty?"

"Oh, yes, I'm listening. Go on."

"--'is of a reddish yellow color, with spots of black. It makes a
strange noise in the night; usually _Krawy! Krawy!_ but sometimes
_Uplumb! Uplumb!_ The hen lays four biggish eggs.' Do you know what I am
reading, aunty? What was the last thing?"

"Yes, yes, I heard. 'The hen lays four biggish eggs,'--two spoonfuls of
flour, and the rind of a lemon," said his aunt, unconsciously speaking
out what was on her mind.