human
I'll tell you, Sally, he said quickly.
gpt
Just trust me.
human
I do.
gpt
I know it, he returned,
human
Why not? Sally asked, interrupting.
gpt
Why don't you like to call it board?
human
Well, Fox answered, rather lamely,
gpt
I don't see, said Sally, brightening distinctly,
human
I can't see why we don't--why we shouldn't, if mother's well enough. I've been thinking.
gpt
But that's just it. Your mother is not well enough for you to take regular, ordinary boarders. You mustn't think of it.
human
Would you call you and Henrietta regular, ordinary boarders?
gpt
On the contrary, we are most irregular, extraordinary boarders. But why, Sally? Would you like to have--
human
Oh, yes, cried Sally at once.
gpt
I should like it very much. But I don't know whether you would.
human
Yes, I should like it very much, too. But there have seemed to be certain reasons why it wasn't best to live here.
gpt
But you live here now, Sally objected;
human
I'll think it over; and, if I think we can come, we will.
gpt
I hope you will. I should feel comfortabler. Because I don't see how we can ever pay you back; at any rate, not for a long time. We should have to wait until I'm old enough to earn money, or until Charlie is. And I'm four years older.
human
And there's another thing. There's Doctor Galen.
gpt
Oh, so the doctor's the other thing. I'll tell him.
human
The money that we have to pay him is the other thing. Sally was very earnest.
gpt
Will it be much, do you think?
human
Sally, don't you worry. I asked the doctor just that question and he told me I had better wait until he sent his bill. He hasn't sent it yet.
gpt
Well--will it be as much as a hundred dollars?
human
It is possible that it may be as much as that.
gpt
Oh, will it be more? Sally was distressed. When should she be able to save--even to earn a hundred dollars.
human
We can't ever pay it, Fox; not for years and years.
gpt
And, Fox, if you have to pay it, we shall owe you an awful lot of money. Have--have you got money enough?
human
I guess I'll be able to manage, Sally.
gpt
I hope so. And I've been thinking, Fox, that I ought to help.
human
Why, Sally, you do help. Just think of the things you do, every day, helping about your mother, and about the house.
gpt
Yes, she returned,
human
Some teachers that I have known, he answered,
gpt
he added, more to himself than to Sally,
human
Do you have to go to college, Fox?
gpt
Well, answered Fox, smiling,
human
Oh, dear! Sally wailed.
gpt
Everything takes so long! I wanted to do something right away. Can't you think of anything, Fox?
human
Not right off the bat. I'll see what thoughts I can raise on that subject. But if I don't think of anything, would you like to plan to be a teacher, Sally?
gpt
If it would help mother, I would. If that's the best thing we can think of. I'd do anything to help mother. I'd go out scrubbing or I'd sell papers or--or anything.
human
Bless your heart! Fox exclaimed under his breath.
gpt
Bless your dear heart, Sally! You needn't go out scrubbing or washing dishes or selling papers or anything of the kind. You can do better than that. And your mother is likely to need your help about as much when you are fitted for teaching as she does now.
human
Is--isn't mother getting better?
gpt
Yes, said Fox,
human
Well, Fox observed,
gpt
I never have taken 'em and so I have no experience with that end of it. But Henrietta and I have been boarding for a good many years now--ever since mother died--and we have seen a good deal of all kinds of boarders. On the average, they seem to be an unmannerly and ungrateful lot. Don't you be a party to making 'em worse, Sally. Don't you do it.
human
Besides, he went on,
gpt
I suppose that's something unpleasant, Sally said quietly,
human
I don't believe there's any money in it.
gpt
You know more about it than I do. I'll do just what you say, Fox.
human
Here comes Henrietta, said Fox.
gpt
Now we'll all go out in the shade and play. But, Sally, he added hastily,
human
Rich relatives! Sally exclaimed.
gpt
Not that I know of. Or, wait. There's Miss Hazen--Martha Hazen. She's a cousin of father's, but I don't know how rich she is. I've never seen her.
human
Where does she live?
gpt
Up in Massachusetts, somewhere. I think she's queer.
human
The queerer the better. Your father's cousin, is she? It wouldn't be strange. Can you find out where she lives, Sally?
gpt
And, Fox, she reminded him,--she was afraid he might forget,--
human
I'll ask Doctor Galen about it.
gpt
What'll you ask Doctor Galen about, Fox? inquired Henrietta.
human
Are you and Sally talking secrets?
gpt
I'll ask the doctor what should be done with a very troublesome little sister,
human
You might get rid of her by sending her off to boarding-school, Henrietta remarked.
gpt
Not that she wants to go.
human
No boarding-school for you yet, young lady. There are one hundred reasons why, and the first is--is so important that the ninety-nine others don't matter.
gpt
I suppose that first reason, said Henrietta,
human
Wrong. That is the second. And the third is that you are too young. Never mind the others. We are going out to play now, Henrietta. Sally darted into the house.
gpt
Where are you going, Sally?
human
After Charlie, she called softly.
gpt
I'll be right back. And let's be sauruses!
human
Sauruses it is, Fox returned.
gpt
I say, Henrietta, can you climb trees as well as Sally?
human
Well, not quite --hesitating--
gpt
You live in a cave with Charlie,