“I say that he is right. Grant has worked hard, Mr. Tarbox, and he ought to be decently dressed.”
“Rodney,” said his mother, “your kind offer is thrown away.”
“So I see,” said Rodney, extending his plate for another piece of pie.
“I’m sorry you take Grant’s part, Mrs. T.,” said the farmer. “I won’t countenance no extravagance. What’s the use of spending good money when a suit of clothes is offered for nothing.”
“If the suit is a good one,” retorted Grant, “why does Rodney lay it aside?”
“There is a difference between him and you,” said Mrs. Bartlett in an acid tone.
“What difference?”
“I’m a gentleman and you’re a farm boy,” said Rodney, taking it upon himself to answer.
“I shan’t always be a farm boy!”
“No, you won’t be a boy when you’re grown up,” returned Rodney, looking around to see if his joke were appreciated.