“Of course; don’t I always pay my share of anything that’s going,” said Lee, haughtily.
“All right,” said Graham as, with a grin at Hamlin, he ran up the steps of the nearest house and rang the bell.
“Want your walk cleared?” he inquired of the servant girl who opened the door.
“How much do you charge?” said the girl; “And where’s your shovel?”
“Where’s yours? Have you one?” replied Graham.
“Ye—yes,” said the girl, doubtfully.
“Well, tell your mistress that we’ll clear the steps and walk in fine style, if she’ll lend us her shovel for an hour afterward.”
“Get along with ye,” said the girl, “we’d never set eyes on the shovel again!”
At this, the crowd of boys on the sidewalk set up a shout of laughter, but Graham persisted:—
“Ask the lady to come to the door a minute, please do! We’ll clear the walk; honor bright, we will.”