head gravely and said to himself: "He's given up trying. Well, I'm sorry, for I did hope that he would at least make an effort; but I am afraid that he is really stupid, and, what's worse, that he doesn't care if he is. It's too bad."
Even on the night before examination Charley studied for only an hour, and then held yarn for his mother to wind, and cut pen-wiper patterns for his sister, and was so bright and cheerful that he did not seem like the same boy who was usually so cross and gloomy at such times.
Examination day came and passed, and Charley never once lost his high spirits or his cheerful manner, but was unfailingly happy and good natured all through the week.
"Well, my boy," said Uncle Fred, with his teasing smile, as they sat down to dinner on the day when the children had been to school to get their examination marks, "I saw a brand new stock of skates down at Barker's this morning."
