As soon as day dawned, his father was up and clearing out the old shed, repairing the broken window, and making it ready to begin work as soon as the wood should be brought in for him to begin upon.
Jack came home at tea time with shining eyes and glowing cheeks.
"I say, dad, Jackson, my foreman, wants to sell his bicycle. It's a good strong one, will wear for years he says."
"Then what does he want to sell it for?" asked Bond.
"Because it's a bit old-fashioned, and he's been saving up to buy a new one; and if he can sell this soon, so as to get another, he will let it go cheap."
"What does he call cheap? Because I happen to have a pound or two in the bank I can't afford to waste it. And if—"
"But I don't want you to give me the money, dad!" interrupted Jack. "He says if I can pay him ten shillings in a fortnight, and five shillings a week afterwards until it is paid, and you will agree to see it is paid, he can order his new machine at once, and I can have his old one when I pay the ten shillings."
"Well, that sounds fair enough, my boy. But I tell you what, I should like to see the machine myself, and get somebody else to look at it who understands such things. You tell him what I say, lad, and hear what he thinks to it. Now, make haste over your tea, for that bicycle has got to be earned yet, you know, and I have got a bit of work ready for you."
So as soon as tea was over, Jack went to his new work in the old shed. And although it was not very pleasant to begin again when he had already done a fair day's work, still, he set to it with a will.
Fortunately for the two workmen, Mrs. Bond was determined to have a share in the new departure. And, knowing that a man cannot do extra work without extra food, instead of going out to have a gossip with a neighbour, she and Annie busied themselves with cooking a tasty little supper from the bones of the previous day's joint, a few scraps of meat, and some fresh vegetables, and a little pearl barley. So when Jack and his father came in about nine o'clock, expecting to see the customary bread and cheese set out upon the table, they found Annie toasting some bread, and Mrs. Bond turning out a dish of delicious stew.