"I surely ought to, after we settled it with our fists."
"May I walk home with you?" Hardy asked, meekly, after a brief pause.
"To what end?"
"I want to be with some one who is friendly," and Master Piemont's assistant spoke in a tone of such dejection that Amos's heart was touched.
"Where do you live?"
"Nowhere now. Master Piemont declares I shall not stay in the house another hour—you know the terms of my apprenticeship were that he should give me a home."
"Then what do you intend to do, Hardy?" and now Amos began to display some concern.
"I shall walk to Salem, where my parents live, if I cannot find other work here. I am afraid when people know it was through me that the trouble began at the Custom House, they will feel as Master Piemont does, and refuse to hire me."
"You can't walk to Salem to-night. Where will you sleep?"
"That makes no difference. If you will only be friendly with me, Amos, I can get along somehow."