"Why don't you eat?" he asked of the housekeeper, seeing that she had abstained from touching the fish.
"I—I don't care for it," she answered. She had in mind to save what was left and give it to Nat for his breakfast.
"That boy is gittin' too big fer his boots," went on Abner Balberry. "He acts like he was of age, an' he is only sixteen. Last week he wanted to know how soon I was goin' to pay him reg'lar wages."
"And what did you tell him?"
"Told him I'd pay him wages when he was wuth it an' not before."
"He does almost a man's work now, doesn't he?"
"Not much! Besides, don't I feed an' clothe him an' give him a comfortable home? He's got too high-falutin' notions, he has!"
"But don't you think he ought to have some money?" went on Mrs. Felton, who could be a trifle independent herself at times.
"No. Money is the ruination o' young folks. Week before last he wanted a quarter to go to the circus with, but he didn't git it."
"Almost all of the boys in this district went to the circus. Tom Bradley told me it was very good, too."