Mr. Beasley’s entrance caused him to look up.
“I shall be leaving you in less than a month now, Mr. Beasley,” he said.
“Got a job to teach, have you?” asked the storekeeper.
“Yes—at St. Timothy’s School.”
“Where may that be?”
“Up in New Hampshire.”
“Quite a ways off. But I suppose you don’t mind that much—having been away to college.”
“No, I think I’ll like it. Besides,—now Lawrence will be able to go to college this fall, and he and I will be pretty near each other. We’ll be able to spend our holidays together. I think it’s fine.”
“It does sound so,” agreed Mr. Beasley. “Well, I’ll be sorry to lose you, Irving. The folks all like to have you wait on ’em; you’re so polite and tidy. But I know clerking in a country store ain’t much of a job for a college graduate, and I’m glad you’ve found something better.”
“I’m glad if I’ve been of any use to you,” replied Irving. “I know you didn’t expect I would be when you took me in. And your giving me this chance has meant that I could stay on here and tutor Lawrence this summer and at the same time pay all my living expenses. It’s been more of a help than you know—to Lawrence as well as to me.”