"I'll be glad to do that for you," offered Michael Haymond. "And I'm good at cutting wood too. Is there an ax around here anywhere?"
"I think I saw one in the basement," Mr. Nichols told him. "But see here—you're our guest."
"I'll be glad to do a little to earn my breakfast. I like to work."
"I can see you do," Mr. Nichols smiled. He studied the young man for a moment. Then he asked abruptly, "How would you like a steady job for a few days?"
"Doing what?"
"All the odd jobs I'm supposed to do. Can you drive a car?"
"Yes."
"Then you could drive to town for our groceries, see that we have a daily wood supply, and repair all the things around here that are falling to pieces."
"Our landlord is expected to see that the place is in livable condition," Penny said quickly. She felt a little troubled because her father wished to engage the strange young man.
"If we wait for him to take care of things, we'll never be comfortable here," returned Mr. Nichols. He turned again to Michael Haymond. "Perhaps I have spoken out of turn. Probably you aren't in need of a job."