“Nor I. Miss Dolby’s board ran the house, so that Chester didn’t need to send any home, and now Chester’s lost his place.”
“You don’t say so!” ejaculated Silas, eagerly.
“Yes. Mrs. Rand told me herself that he had left his work and gone out West in search of a place. I don’t see, for my part, what the widder’s goin’ to do.”
“I’m sorry Chester’s been so unlucky. But he needn’t have gone out West; I’m ready to take him back into my store.”
“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Tripp.”
“I want to help along his mother, seein’ she’s a widder and in hard luck.”
“Shall I tell her you will take Chester back?”
“No; I’ll call round and see her about it. There may be some dickerin’ about the salary. Chester’s got rather high notions, but I can’t afford to pay extravagant prices.”
“Just so. I’m sorry for the widder Rand, but she’s sot too much on that boy, and thought there wasn’t no other boy in Wyncombe that was equal to him. I’m sure my Fred is just as smart as he.”
It was not till the next evening that Mr. Tripp found it convenient to call on Mrs. Rand. She was rather surprised by the visit, and a little curious to learn what it meant.