"He is a smart, queer chap, and will be a professor of some kind. At present he is simply omnivorous; it makes little difference what, so long as he learns. And I really did not like to study."
"You have given your father a great deal of pleasure by your perseverance," she said sweetly.
Varina was jealous that both brothers should haunt Annis so continually and be so ready to plan pleasures for her. She quite decided now that Annis might marry Charles.
"And if no one marries me I shall go and keep house for Louis in Washington," she announced.
There was a houseful of grown people one afternoon, when Annis took her sewing and went down to the creek to a shady spot the children were very fond of. Louis had made a kind of swinging seat with a wild grapevine, and it was a favorite haunt of hers, though when she found Varina in it she never disturbed her or disputed her claim. Charles often sat and read to her.
"Do, Rene, go away or find something to do!" exclaimed Jaqueline presently, when the younger had been especially tormenting. "You are worse than a gadfly!"
"There's no one to amuse me. I don't care for those folks on the porch talking politics."
"Then go down to the quarters and set the darkies to dancing or order up Hornet."
"I don't want to ride alone. It was mean in Charles to go off without saying a word."
"Papa sent him over to the Crears' on an errand."