"I've got jest sich a cow as would suit Aunt Nancy; she's a good one, an' I wouldn't like to part with her for nothin'. Now, if you'd do the chores 'round here this summer, an' she would put in some of the money I owe for the wheat, we might strike a trade."
"But I don't want her to pay anything."
"Thought you could do it all yourself, eh?"
"I hoped so," Jack replied in a tone of disappointment.
"Why, I don't reckon you'd earn it in a year. I'd want forty dollars at the very lowest figger for my cow, an' it would take a mighty smart boy to git that much in twelve months."
Jack could no longer conceal his feelings, and, seeing he was pained because of the failure of his plans, Mr. Treat continued in what he intended should be a soothing tone,—
"I'd be willin' to allow you twenty dollars for a summer's work previdin' you'd board yourself at Aunt Nancy's. Then she'd only be called on to pay as much more, an' have twice as good a cow as the one that's dead."
"How long do you say the summer should last?"
"Well, I wouldn't be hard on you, an' we'd call it quits by the middle of November."
"How much of that time would it be necessary for me to stay in the store?"