“Real selfishness's chief excuse! Here's something ready to your hand. Will you do it?”
“But thee told me thee would not go forth and do good!”
“No matter about me. I am not a professional knight-errant! Will you do this?”
“Ten seconds more!” warned the boss.
“I cannot change my plans so suddenly,” protested Chick.
“A knight-errant should not have plans! My time is up and I have work. Good-by, Friend Chick!”
The young man went back to his task and the Quaker passed on, muttering reaffirmation of his own high aims.
“And how could I expect a vagrant to understand?” he asked himself.
The vagrant toiled two weeks at his heavy task and when the man Jose was about again the volunteer slipped away without farewell.
He left on the table of his under-the-eaves bedroom in the Jose house all the pay he received for his work, to the last penny.