"About, Mam'selle, about. That was my word."
"But winter is near and there is Cecile. Captain, will you leave me a bit to begin on?"
"Well, now, let us see. How about our building up your wood pile; starting you in with potatoes, pork, and the like and leaving say twenty-five dollars in the teapot? How about that, eh?"
"Will you write it down and sign?" Jo was quivering.
"You're sharp, devilishly sharp, Mam'selle. How about being good friends instead of hard drivers of bargains?"
"You must write it out and sign, Captain. We'll be better friends for that."
Again Longville considered.
The arrangement would be brief at best, he concluded.
"I'll sign!" he finally agreed, "but, Mam'selle, it's like a play between you and me."
"It's no play, Captain, as you will see."