“I was only giving him an apple or two,” said the boy, after a few moments’ hesitation.
“Come in, sir,” cried the doctor.
“A month’s notice, if you please, sir, from to-day,” said Dan’l, frowning angrily; but no one paid any heed to him, for the doctor had laid his hand upon Dexter’s shoulder, and marched him off.
“And I’ve never said nothing yet about our bees,” grumbled Dan’l. “A young tyke! Raddled ’em up with a long stick on purpose to get me stung to death, he did, as is a massy I warn’t. Well, a month to-day. Either he goes or I do. Such whims, to have a boy like that about the place. Well, I’m glad I’ve brought it to a head, for the doctor won’t part with me.”
“Now, sir,” said the doctor, as he seated himself in his chair, and Helen took up her work, carefully keeping her eyes off Dexter, who looked at her appealingly again and again. “Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”
Dexter looked at the doctor, and his countenance was so unpleasantly angry that the ceiling, the floor, and the various objects around seemed preferable, and were carefully observed in turn.
“Do you hear, sir? What have you to say for yourself!”
“What about?” faltered Dexter at last.
“What about, sir? Just as if you did not know! Weren’t you forbidden to touch those apples!”
“Only by Daniel, sir; and he said I was never to touch any fruit at all; but you said I might.”