“B’Judas, I forgot him,” muttered the host. “Come here, sonny.”
The boy obeyed, and mechanically handed the captain his paper while keeping unwinking eyes on Betsy. “Now d’ye want to earn a quarter?”
“Yus.”
“Well, go to Mrs. Bachelder and tell her somethin’ for me. Think ye can?”
“Yus.”
“She’s ben wantin’ to go to Portland and do some tradin’. Can you tell her that I’ve got some business to do that’ll keep me away all to-day and she needn’t come over to get dinner?”
“Yus.”
“And she can go up town to-day or to-morrer mornin’ and do her tradin’ if she wants to. Can ye tell her that?”
“Yus.”
“Well, go on then. Here’s yer quarter. Go right there from here. D’ye hear?”