Tobias watched the boy who didn't look him in the eye and felt another stab of pity. If he spoke the truth - he wasn't entirely certain how much of this entire story was true, but the fact was that she could read and he could not - he had sacrificed his own future in favour of his little sister's. And he had raised her while just a child himself.

"But ye must learn yer letters at least. Ye can't do many jobs or anythin' much without at least some readin' and writin'." He turned to Mable. "Ye should teach yer brother."