"Three carriage horses. Father would buy me a pony, but he's afraid I might fall, and not be able to help myself."
"Do you go to school?"
"No; my health is not good enough. The doctor says I must be out in the open air a good deal, and must not overtax my brain. I suppose you have been to school a good deal."
"Well, no," said Sam; "I am afraid of overtaxing my brain, too."
Arthur laughed. "I don't think, from your looks, that you need feel afraid," he said.
"You've no idea how delicate I am," said Sam, humorously.
"I should think you might be," said Arthur, merrily; "but you are very successful in not showing it."
"That's why I don't get any sympathy. What do you do all day long if you don't go to school?"
"I study some, and recite to a tutor who comes out from Boston; but I have a good deal of time to myself. I've been very lonely since my mother died," he added, soberly.
"How long ago was that?" Sam inquired, with sympathy.