“Yes, so far as it went; but if I’d thought of all that’s going on I would have put up my price, or held out half-hired till the business was over.”
Now for the first time since their meeting 150 did Corporal ’Lige’s pupil speak sharply to this friend.
“You should be ashamed to demand money for such work as you have done this day,” he said stoutly. “Whatever resistance be made to the king is for the benefit of all the colonies, and if each one insisted on being paid, as you’ve done, his majesty might work his will, for there would be none to say him nay.”
Young Beman was both surprised and injured by this outburst.
“That’s what I call pretty tough, after all I’ve done for you!” he cried sharply. “If it hadn’t been for me you wouldn’t have got over here and had a chance of staying all night in our house.”
“I didn’t have a chance without paying for it, as I understand Master Phelps is to settle with your father for our accommodations.”
“Yes, an’ just before I come away mother told me she thought as likely as not father’d be such a fool as to refuse to take a cent; but I ain’t goin’ to quarrel with you, even if I have been defrauded of what is my right. Come up to the house an’ get some supper, won’t you?”
“You mean that I shall partake of the food after I have helped you do the chores?”
“Well, yes, something like that. Of course you don’t expect to get your supper for nothing.”
“No; I’d rather go without than do more work now after tramping around all the afternoon. There’ll be something in the way of rations found in camp, an’ I’ll take my chances there.”