“Perhaps, though, there are some mistakes which you really can’t help making.”
“Well, I don’t know,” Jack said doubtfully. “I’m awfully stupid over figures, and I never can learn the multiplication table.”
“I have thought of that,” Maimie said. “I have often wished to help you there, Jack; only I didn’t quite like to propose it. But I know I’m good at figures, and I’m quite sure I could help you. There are all sorts of little catches and dodges for a bad memory at figures, and I could put you up to some of them. I don’t mean tricks, but real ways of helping you to be quick in calculation, and not to forget. I am quite sure you can learn the tables, and all the weights and measures too, if only you make up your mind not to be beaten.”
“Mother, you hear!” cried Jack.
“Maimie is right,” I said. “There is a wonderful difference between setting to work with 'I can’t’ and with 'I will.’”
“I’ll leave off saying 'can’t,’ and take to 'will’” said Jack. “But, Maimie, we mustn’t have you fall ill, teaching me.”
“O there’s no fear about that,” she said brightly. “I love books and teaching more than anything. It will be so nice to do something useful. Jack, I don’t see why we shouldn’t read history together too.”
Jack looked doubtful. “I’m not fond of history,” he said. “But I could read it with you.”
“If you don’t like it, you must learn to like it,” said Maimie. “I do wonder at you sometimes, Jack, when I see you wasting your whole evening doing nothing,—and you might be studying hard all the time.”
“I’ll begin to-morrow. I didn’t think before,” said Jack. “Mother has tried to make me read often enough, and I never took to it,—but I will now.”