"From five o'clock in the mornin' till nine at night, the same as is expected of other boys."
It was the last blow to Jack's hopes. His duty to Louis would prevent him from remaining in this section of the country such a length of time, and it was essential he should assist Aunt Nancy in order to pay her for the food he and Louis consumed.
"Well, what do you think of it?" Mr. Treat asked, as the boy stood irresolutely for a moment.
"I couldn't because I can't stay here as long as that, and, besides, I must do something for Aunt Nancy to earn our board."
"That's right, my boy. There's no harm done because we didn't make a trade; but it shows I'm willin' to help along all I can in a case like this."
"I'm much obliged to you," Jack replied faintly, and then he started up the road once more, walking decidedly faster than when he came.
He had counted on being able to ease the sorrow in Aunt Nancy's mind by buying for her a cow as good as the one she had lost.
He was revolving in his mind half a dozen plans by which the desired result might be attained, when a voice from the opposite side of the road caused him to halt.
"How's Aunt Nancy by this time?"
It was Mr. Souders who spoke, and because that gentleman had been so kind to him on the day when the sewing circle met at the little woman's house, he decided to tell him the whole story, not from any expectation of receiving assistance, but in order to relieve his mind.