"It seems to me you have a good deal of business in Boston."
"I hope to have."
"You ain't going to stay, are you?"
"I expect to stay. I've got an offer from a party there."
"Of what sort?"
"That letter will tell you."
Ephraim Carver looked over the letter, and he smiled to himself, for he recognized the handwriting of Colonel Johnson, though the letter was signed by another name.
"You're walking into the lion's den, young man," he thought; but he only said: "It seems to be a good offer. Why, you will be paid as much as I get. How old are you?"
"Almost sixteen."
"Boys get on more rapidly now than they did when I was of your age. Why, I'm more'n twenty years older than you are, and I haven't got any higher than twelve dollars a week yet."