Opening the letter, Douglas read the brief note, and as he did so an amused expression overspread his face. He studied it carefully for a few minutes without making any comment. Shoving it into his pocket, he was about to resume his work when the messenger stopped him.
"I want ye'r answer," he said.
"Tell your master that I shall answer him the first time I meet him,"
Douglas replied.
"But Si will give me hell if I don't take more than that," the man whined. "He told me to bring him a 'yes' or a 'no'."
"I can't help that. If you're willing to allow Si Stubbles to treat you like a dog, you must put up with the consequences."
Douglas stood and watched the messenger as he slowly ambled back across the field.
"Poor wretch," he remarked, "he is afraid to go back to his master.
Who is he, anyway?"
"Oh, he's only Barney Tompkins," Jake replied. "He's a useless feller, with a big family. He does odd jobs fer Si, runnin' errands, sweepin' the store, an' sich like. He's got no spunk."
"Like many more in this parish, if I'm not mistaken. Si doesn't want any one here who shows the least sign of spunk. He's given me notice to quit already."
"Great punkins! ye don't say so!"