“I should not wonder one bit if you did,” mused Frank. “Let me see—which one of the distinguished will you pattern after?”
Mrs. Hallock had left the room after taking a glance at Frank’s fish, so that Kate felt quite free to impart the news she had received, in her own manner.
“Frank,” said Kate, her eyes shining, “if I were you, I’d go to school and make of myself the very best scholar I could. I’d learn and learn until I knew enough to support myself and lots of folks besides—I would. O, Frank! did you know that papa has lost ever so much money, and that maybe Neptune will be sold to pay for your uniform, or something?”
“Whew!” cried Frank. “Who said so?”
“Mamma told me so this very afternoon, and we are going to do without ever so many things this winter, to save money for you.”
“I’ve noticed that something was going wrong for some time,” said Frank, “and now it’s out. Well, you can get along without Neptune, Kate, and it does cost a great deal to keep a horse.”
“How much did papa pay for the Clover?” questioned Kate.
“Fifty dollars. I know, because I went with him to buy it.”
“You can sell that, I know,” said Kate, assuredly, “for I know who will buy it.”
“Catch me selling my boat!” cried Frank; “indeed I won’t. I shall want it every vacation, unless it’s at Christmas holidays.”