"I suppose we shan't do any more regular lessons, mamma?"

"Indeed you will, Maud. You do not imagine that your education is
finished, do you? and you cannot wish to grow almost as ignorant as
the poor Indians of the country. You will give up the piano, and
learn Spanish instead of French, but that will be all the
difference; and I shall expect you both to make as much progress as
possible, because, although I shall take you both out there, and
shall teach you whenever I find time, your lessons must of
necessity be short and irregular. And now you can all go out into
the garden and talk the matter over."

"But you have not told us yet where we are going to, papa," Charley
said.

"We are going to farm upon the bunks of one of the great South
American rivers--probably the Parana, in the Argentine Republic."

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy watched their children from the window. They
went out in a group to the summer-house in the corner of the
garden, all talking excitedly. Then Maud ran back again to the
house, and in a minute or two returned with the schoolroom atlas,
and opening it upon the table, they all clustered over it in eager
consultation.

Mrs. Hardy turned to her husband with a smile. "You will have to
get up the subject, Frank, so as to be able to answer the
innumerable questions you will be asked."

"I shall always refer them to you."