“I don’t need it, either!” angrily retorted Pet. “I can read first-rate now, without spelling more than half the words; and write—I wish you could see how beautifully I can make some of the letters!”
“Oh! I saw a specimen yesterday—Minnie showed it to me—looked as if a hen had dipped her foot in an ink-bottle and clawed it over the paper.”
“Why, you horrid, hateful, sassy——”
“Abandoned, impertinent young man!” interrupted Raymond. “There! I’ve helped you out with it. And now look here, Pet, how do you expect to be raised to the dignity of my wife, some day, if you don’t learn something? Why, when we are married, you’ll have to make your mark!”
“I’ve a good mind to do that now with my whip!” exclaimed Pet, flourishing it in dangerous proximity to his head. “Your wife, indeed! I guess not! I’m to be a President’s lady some day, Aunt Deb says. Catch me marrying you!”
“Well, that will be your loss. Where is the judge going to send you?”
“Why, he says to the Sacred Heart; but I ain’t gone yet! I’d a heap sooner go to Judestown, with Minnie, to that school where all the boys and girls go together. Oh, Ray! there are just the nicest boys ever was there—’specially one with the beautifulest red cheeks, and the loveliest bright buttons on his coat ever you seen!”
And Pet’s eyes sparkled at the recollection.
“Who is he?” said Raymond, who did not look by any means so delighted as Pet fancied he should.
“His name’s Bobby Brown; and only he’s all as yellow as the yolk of an egg ever since he had the ja’nders, he’d be real pretty. But I’m getting hungry, Ray. I’ll race you to the cottage, and bet you anything I’ll beat you!”