Duff bowed with a little of diffidence amid all his gravity, and sneezed as if to hide it:
"Jericho!—Miss Podge, see the time—eight o'clock, and an hour before school. Let us go look at the river."
They walked out on the wharf, and were wholly concealed from shore by piles of cord-wood and staves.
"I like to get off here, away from listeners, where I need not be bellowed at and tire out well-meaning lungs. Now—Jericho! Jericho!" he sneezed, without any sort of meaning. "Miss Podge," said Duff Salter, "if you look directly into my eyes and articulate distinctly, I can hear all you say without raising your voice higher than usual. How much money do you get for school teaching?"
"Five hundred dollars."
"Is that all? What do you do with it?"
"Support my mother and brother."
"And yourself also?"
"Oh! yes."
"She can't do it!" exclaimed Duff Salter inwardly; "that director comes in the case. Miss Podge, how old is your brother?"