“Now, Harry,” said Mr. Fox, after breakfast, “we may as well speak of our future arrangements. I have considerable to do on my twenty acres of land, and I can give you work here.”
“What compensation do you offer, sir?”
“As a boarder I should have to charge you five dollars a week for your board, and fifty cents extra for your washing—that would go to Mrs. Fox; as well as pay twenty-five cents a week for your mending. That also would go to my wife. Now, if you work for me, I will take off three dollars, making the charge to you only two dollars and seventy-five cents per week.”
“Don’t you think, Mr. Fox, that is rather low pay for my services?”
“I might say two dollars and a quarter,” said Mr. Fox, deliberating.
Harry smiled to himself. He had not the slightest idea of working for any such trifle, but he did not care to announce his determination yet.
“I will pay full price for a week, Mr. Fox,” he said, “and during that time I will consider your offer.”
“I may not offer you as favorable terms a week from now,” said Fox, who wanted to get his ward to work at once.
“I will take my chance of it, sir. I prefer to have a few days of freedom.”
“By the way, Harry, don’t you think you had better give me your money to keep? You might lose it.”