The major 's decision took every one by surprise , and Amy and Casimer looked as if they had fallen from the clouds . The persistency with which the English lessons had gone on was amazing , for Amy usually tired of everything in a day or two . Now , however , she was a devoted teacher , and her pupil did her great credit by the rapidity with which he caught the language . It looked like pleasant play , sitting among the roses day after day , Amy affecting to embroider while she taught , Casimer marching to and fro on the wide , low wall , below which lay the lake , while he learned his lesson ; then standing before her to recite , or lounging on the turf in frequent fits of idleness , both talking and laughing a great deal , and generally forgetting everything but the pleasure of being together . They wrote little notes as exercises -- Amy in French , Casimer in English , and each corrected the other 's . All very well for a time ; but as the notes increased the corrections decreased , and at last nothing was said of ungrammatical French or comical English and the little notes were exchanged in silence . As Amy took her place that day she looked forlorn , and when her pupil came her only welcome was a reproachful -- `` You are very late , sir . '' `` It is fifteen of minutes yet to ten clocks , '' was Casimer 's reply , in his best English . `` Ten o'clock , and leave out ` of ' before minutes . How many times must I tell you that ? '' said Amy , severely , to cover her first mistake . `` Ah , not many times ; soon all goes to finish , and I have none person to make this charming English go in my so stupide head . '' `` What will you do then ? '' `` I jeter myself into the lake . '' `` Do n't be foolish ; I 'm dull to-day , and want to be cheered up ; suicide is n't a pleasant subject . '' `` Good ! See here , then -- a little plaisanterie -- what you call joke . Can you will to see it ? '' and he laid a little pink cocked-hat note on her lap , looking like a mischievous boy as he did so . '' ` Mon Casimer Teblinski ; ' I see no joke ; '' and Amy was about to tear it up , when he caught it from destruction , and holding it out of reach , said , laughing wickedly , -- `` The ` mon ' is one abbreviation of ` monsieur , ' but you put no little -- how do you say ?
-- period at the end of him ; it goes now in English -- My Casimer XXXXX , ' and that is of the most charming address . ''
Amy English Teblinski cocked-hat day first fro jeter o'clock persistency