Now someone knocked at my door.
I replied with a prompt "Good-morning," and presently went into the kitchen, where the three greeted me warmly. All signs of their sleeping on the kitchen floor had vanished.
"I don't know what I shall do, Joe," said Abraham Guptil when I was taking leave of him an hour later. "This place is all I have."
I made up my mind there and then that neither Abraham Guptil nor his wife and child should suffer want.
"I'll see to that," I replied. "There'll be something for you to do and some place for you to go."
Then, with no idea how I should fulfil my promise, I shook his hand and left him.
When at last I got back to the store, Arnold Lamont was there alone. My uncle had not returned, and Sim Muzzy had gone fishing. It was an uncommonly hot day, and since there were few customers, we sat and talked of one thing and another.
When I saw that Arnold was looking closely at the foils, which stood in a corner, an idea came to me. Cornelius Gleazen had praised my swordsmanship to the skies, and, indeed, I was truly becoming a match for him. Twice I had actually taken a bout from him, with a great swishing and clattering of blades and stamping of feet, and now, although he continued to give me lessons, he no longer would meet me in an assault. As for the other young fellows, I had far and away outstripped them.
"Would you like to try the foils once, Arnold?" I asked. "I'll give you a lesson if you say so."
For a moment I thought there was a twinkle in the depths of his eyes; but when I looked again they were sober and innocent.