“Oh—that’s not only the boys,” Jean said. “We’re going to read to them—jolly books, like those ‘High Roads’ series, that teach you all about history and geography and literature without letting you guess that you’re being taught. We had a lot of them ourselves, and Mrs. Forester has sent dozens in Rex’s trunk. They’ll get absolutely full of knowledge without an effort on their own parts!”
“Why wasn’t I taught like that!” groaned Mr. Weston. “My ‘High Roads’ were paved with flint—these lucky young dogs will have theirs strewn with rose-leaves. Well, it seems a pretty comprehensive schedule, twinses. I hope you’ll be able to live up to it.”
“We mean to have a jolly good try,” Jo said. “I expect we’ll slump sometimes, but we’re really going to do our best. Now, where do you come in, Dad?”
“Is it me?” queried Mr. Weston blankly. “What have I to do with your fell schemes?”
“Rex isn’t a fell scheme, and you have lots to do with him,” said his relentless daughter. “You see, it was specially mentioned that he needs manly influence. Well, we can’t supply that!”
“I’m not so sure,” remarked the hapless man, gazing at the determined young faces. “Still, I’m willing to do all I can. What would you suggest?”
“Well—boxing for one thing: and of course he has to be taught to ride. We can all take a turn at that, but we think he ought to begin with you, Dad, ’cause he’ll have more confidence with a man than he would with us.”
“Can do,” said Mr. Weston. “I’ll give him half an hour on old Merrilegs after breakfast every morning—if I possibly can. Boxing after tea; then they can wash off the results and sleep off the soreness! Anything else?”
“Well—no other accomplishments. But he can go about with you and Billy, can’t he, Dad?—when you have time, of course. We don’t want them always with us, or getting into mischief alone.”
“Billy is very anxious to learn to manage the place,” said Mr. Weston, with a twinkle in his eye. “I think he has visions of relieving me of any work after a year or two—like you two with your mother. I’ve promised to teach him all I can, but of course there’s very little to show him just now, with the whole place a desert, and most of the stock away. When Rex can ride I can take them both out with me. Meanwhile, I’ll do what I can to instruct him in country ways; and it’s not a bad thing to teach them to use their eyes. Quite remarkable, how many people can look at things without seeing them. To come down to actual deeds, Billy is earnestly learning to use an axe, and to milk. Rex can share those lessons.”