There were always the governesses, you know, and lessons, and sewing, and housekeeping; but I'm afraid we were too often bribed to our tasks with promises of horses or of cattle drives.
"Von had been in the army, and Dad was an old sea-dog, and they were both stern disciplinarians; only the two girls had no mother, and neither had I, and they were two men after all.

They spoiled us terribly.

You see, they didn't have any wives, and they made chums out of us--when our tasks were done.

We had to learn to do everything about the house twice as well as the native servants did it--that was so that we should know how to manage some day.

And we always made the cocktails, which was too holy a rite for any servant.