"I don't know where to raise the money," faltered Mrs. Barclay.
"Then you had better sell to my friend here. He will assume the mortgage and pay you three hundred dollars."
"But that will be only a thousand dollars for the place."
"A very fair price, in my opinion, Mrs. Barclay."
"I have always considered it worth fifteen hundred dollars," said the widow, very much disturbed.
"A fancy price, my dear madam; quite an absurd price, I assure you. What do you say, Kirk?"
"I quite agree with you, squire," said Kirk, in a strong, nasal tone. "But then, women don't know anything of business."
"I know that you and your cousin are trying to take advantage of my poverty," said Mrs. Barclay bitterly. "If you are a carpenter, why don't you build a house for yourself, instead of trying to deprive me of mine?"
"That's my business," said Kirk rudely.
"Mr. Kirk cannot spare the time to build at present," said the squire.