"Muddle on as best we can, and die in the poorhouse," said Aymer.
"No, old fellow," said Guy, laying his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Surely, with youth and strength to help us, and a good cause that must have God's blessing on it, we need not fear that fate. Let us see if we can't save a few shillings among us. We'll have a bag, and Clarice shall keep it; and every penny we can screw up shall go into it. No sum to be considered too small, remember; and not a penny to be spent that can be bagged. In time, we shall have enough to take one of us out."
"I never saw the penny yet that we didn't want to spend on actual necessaries," said Aymer, despondingly.
"No, but you will soon. Now I mean to put a notice up in the Post-office window, offering my services as letter-writer and accountant. I daresay I shall get a little employment. There are plenty of farmers who are much in Billy Cox's condition as to reading 'hand o write' and keeping accounts, and maybe they'll employ me. As to letter-writing, I do that already for the whole neighbourhood, and for the future, I shall charge two-pence ahead. And, if you wouldn't mind, Aymer, if you didn't dislike it, I could tell you of something."
"Tell away, old fellow."
But Guy's eyes sought Clarice, doubtfully.
"He will like it; go on," said she, smiling.
"Well, Mr. Pearson, the Englishman who has taken the farm the Costillos had; you know, don't you? Well, he wants a person to undertake the care of his cattle. He called at the Post-office about it, and asked Billy to let it be known. The cattle would have to be driven out in the morning and driven in at night, bailed up, and bedded, and cared for. The land lies all along the other side of the river, just as far us our own goes on this; you could cross half a dozen times a day, and yet get a good deal done at home."
"What did he offer?" asked Aymer.
"Two shillings a day, and the man's food. Then that meant the whole day, of course. I suppose he would not give you so much, because you would only mind the cattle, and be of no other use to him."