"
"But I ain't no scholar," said Rob, doubtfully; "I can't write nor read,
and that's against a feller!"
"Oh, well, you won't have to read and write much in the garden. Old Hal
can't read either, and he makes a cross for his name when he has to
write it. But I suppose you can learn, can't you?"
Rob nodded.
"You see I played truant mostly when I was sent to school, and then I
began to mind the cattle soon after I were eight year old, but if any
body would start me, I believe I could pick it up."
"I'll teach you myself when I've nothing else to do," said Roy, grandly;
"for I want you to be clever. I want you to come with me, when I'm grown
up, to my big house. You shall be my head servant, and live with me
always. Would you like that?"
Rob grinned, and seemed to think it a great joke.
Roy continued: "Of course I shall want you more when Dudley goes away.
He has got a stepfather, so when he grows up he will go out to India, I
expect, to live with him, but we don't talk of it, and we pretend we're
never going to leave each other. Did you find Dudley very much heavier
to carry than me?"
"Well, yes, he were a bit heavier."
"I'm afraid I shall never catch him up, he is nearly a head taller, and
he seems to grow quicker every month.
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