"What does he want, I wonder?" he thought, but he said, in a civil tone: "Good-evening, Tom."
"You're out of business, ain't you?" asked Tom abruptly.
"I'm not out of work at any rate!" answered Ben.
"Why, what work are you doing?" interrogated Tom, in evident disappointment.
"I've been doing some jobs about the house, for mother."
"That won't give you a living," said Tom disdainfully.
"Very true."
"Did you expect to stay in the store?" asked Tom.
"Not after I heard that your father had bought it," answered Ben quietly.
"My father's willing to give you work," said Tom.