"And it is agreed that Johnnie could cure himself of his lisp if he chose, and if you would continually remind him of it?"
"Oh yes, certainly it is."
"Very well, if the thing is managed by next Easter, I'll give each of you one of those ponies; and," continued Grand cunningly, "you may have the use of them during the remainder of these holidays, provided you both promise, upon your honour, to begin the cure directly. If Johnnie has not left off lisping at Easter, I shall have the ponies sold."
"I'll lead him such a life that he shall wish he'd never been born; I will indeed," exclaimed Crayshaw fervently.
"Well," said Johnnie, "never wath a better time. Allez le, or, in other wordth, go it."
"And every two or three days you shall bring him to me," continued
Grand, "that I may hear him read and speak."
The next morning, before John went into the town, he was greeted by the two boys on their ponies, and came out to admire and hear the conditions.
"We mayn't have them at school," said Johnnie, bringing out the last word with laudable distinctness, "but Grand will let them live in hith—in his—stables."
John was very well contented to let the experiment alone; and a few days after this, his younger children, going over with a message to Johnnie, reported progress to him in the evening as he sat at dinner.
"Johnnie and Cray were gone into the town on their grand new ponies, almost as big as horses; they came galloping home while we were there," said Janie.