Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/42

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CHAPTER IV


THE OLD PROFESSOR'S PUPIL


Before Dave left the Wadsworth mansion the lady of the place insisted upon thanking him warmly for what he had done for her daughter. Jessie was also grateful and did what she could to show it.

"I shall never forget you, Dave Porter," she said, with a warm smile. "If it hadn't been for you I should have been burnt up!" And her pretty eyes filled with tears.

"I'm glad I was able to do it for you," was Dave's simple answer. He wanted to say more, but, somehow, the words would not come. He had always looked at Jessie Wadsworth as something of a fairy, far removed from such a country boy as himself. Now she seemed more of a fairy and more beautiful than ever.

When Dave reached home he found Caspar Potts anxiously awaiting his return.

"Mr. Wadsworth is coming to see us," said he. "He thinks you must have taught him when he went to Vale College."

"Did he go to old Vale!" cried Caspar Potts.

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