"What! you didn't sell it?" exclaimed Mr. Middleton.
"Oh, yes, sir, I sold it!" said Ishmael, as the irrepressible tears rushed to his eyes. "I sold it! I was obliged to do so! Patrick Henry would have done it, sir!"
"But you did not sell it to get money to buy toys with?"
"Oh, no, no, no, sir! It was a matter of life and death, else I never would have parted with my book!"
"Tell me all about it, my boy."
"My Aunt Hannah has been ill in bed all the winter. I haven't been able to earn anything for the last month. We got out of money and provisions. And Mr. Nutt wouldn't trust us for anything—"
"Uncle, mind you, don't deal with that horrid man any more!" interrupted Claudia.
"Did you owe him much, my boy?" inquired Mr. Middleton.
"Not a penny, sir! We never went in debt and never even asked for credit before."
"Go on."