Hal repeated this to Dot and Granny; and when Kit came home he heard the "bad news," over which he looked very sober.
"But then it might be worse," said Hal cheerily; for he was never sad long at a time. "We have almost a hundred dollars, and I shall try to make my flowers more profitable this winter."
And the best of all was, Hal did begin to feel better. The terrible weakness seemed to yield at last to some of the good doctor's tonics, his appetite improved, and he could sleep quite well once more.
At this juncture Kit found an opening.
"They'll take me in the melodeon-factory over at Salem," he announced breathlessly one evening. "Mr. Briggs told me of it, and I went to see. I can board with Mr. Halsey, the foreman; and oh, can't he play on the violin! He will go on teaching me, and I can have my board and four dollars a month."
"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Granny. "What next?"
"Then you won't have me to take care of this winter. I'm about tired of going to school, and that's nice business. I can come home every Saturday night."
"Yes," said Hal thoughtfully.
"I do believe Mr. Halsey's taken a great liking to me. He wants you to come over, Hal, and have a talk."