“Because he wanted to cut down my wages from three dollars to two dollars and a quarter.”

“Just like uncle Silas. I see you know him.”

“Have you seen him since you came to Wyncombe?”

“I was in the store this evening.”

“Did you make yourself known to him?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t he invite you to spend the night in the house?”

“Not he. He saw by my dress that I was poor, and gave me a lecture on my shiftless ways.”

“Still he might have taken care of you for one night.”

“He wouldn’t. He told me he washed his hands of me.”