“We aren’t being educated,” said Corny deliberately.
Mother Brimmer turned away from her bread-board, looked at him keenly, then sent a swift glance over to her one girl.
“And that’s just what I want to talk about this morning. You’re going to have a chance at it, if you both agree to the plan.”
It was impossible for the children to work now; and the needle and the hammer dropped, while Mother Brimmer went on.
“Mr. Thomas will come here every evening for an hour, for a dollar a week, and teach Jack and both of you; and I’m to have the chance of listening and asking questions, so you might as well call me a scholar, too.”
Neither of her auditors said a word, but stared into the strong face, out of whose mouth was issuing such wonderful words.
“There will have to be hard work on your part to make every minute tell,” said Mother Brimmer, “as you’ve got to keep your books by you and study when you get a chance. But the most important of all, is to keep saying the things you learn, over and over to yourself, so that you can’t forget them; I wouldn’t give a cent that any child of mine should get anything into his or her head, that can’t stay by them,” she added, with a scorn to match that of Cornelius’ own.
“We never’ll forget what we once learn,” cried both Corny and Rosalie in one breath. “But how are we going to pay for it, Mamsie?”
“Well, now to pay for the lessons, we shall all have to sacrifice something,” said Mrs. Brimmer, drawing herself up to her full height, and looking resolutely at them.
“We can give up our play—afternoons,” said Corny slowly, his black eye steadily on her.