The gentleman shook his head.
He made one or two other proposals, which being in like manner unsuccessful, he returned to the old lady, who, having by this time got through her negotiations with the hackman, whom she had vainly striven to beat down to seventy-five cents, was in a more favorable mood to accept Ben's services.
"Can't you take less than fifty cents?" she asked.
"No," said Ben, decidedly.
"I'll give you forty."
"Couldn't do it," said Ben, who felt sure of gaining his point now.
"Well, I suppose I shall be obleeged to hire you," said the old lady with a sigh. "Seraphiny ought to have sent down to meet me. I didn't tell her I was comin' to-day; but she might have thought I'd come, bein' so pleasant. Here, you boy, you may take the bag, and mind you don't run away with it. There aint nothin' in it but some of my clo'es."
"I don't want none of your clo'es," said Ben. "My wife's bigger'n you, and they wouldn't fit her."
"Massy sakes! you aint married, be you?"
"Why shouldn't I be?"