Roy hated waste above all things.
Rex checked the toss he was about to make, and transferred the berry to his mouth instead.
“Has your majesty any objections to that disposition of the fruit?” he asked with an assumption of the courtliness that became him so well.
“Well, it’s a legitimate disposition at any rate,” returned Roy. Then he went out to the barn to feed the chickens and look after the cow, for the Pells kept no hired man. The boys attended to the kitchen garden—at least Roy did most of it, and there had been no horses kept by the family since shortly after Mr. Pell’s death.
This was another of Rex’s trials.
“Think of living in the country without a horse!” he would exclaim. “And then to have the stable on the place into the bargain! It’s enough to make the horse we haven’t got laugh.”
To be sure he had plenty of rides. The Bowmans who came down to Marley for the summer, were very fond of him, and nearly every day during the summer Scott took him out in his cart.
But Rex sighed to return this hospitality. All of his friends were glad to come down to the Pellery, as Rex called it, for Mrs. Pell was a great favorite and the young people were lively and bright. Rex fretted, however, because he had no “attractions” to offer them.
He was feeling particularly gloomy this morning. Having exhausted himself in regretting the good time he would lose in not being able to go with the Bowmans, he had taken to lamenting his condition here in Marley during vacation with Scott away. He was not so fond of reading as was Roy, and without plenty of congenial society, he was apt to find that time hung heavy on his hands.
Scott had gone to Philadelphia this morning to make some purchases for his journey. He would not be back till afternoon. Rex had not yet planned what to do with himself in the meantime.