Deacon Pitkin knew that he had made a very mean offer, and felt that he could afford to increase it somewhat; but he was a close hand at a bargain, and meant to get Ben as cheap as he could.
"What was you expectin'?" he asked cautiously. "You must remember that you're only a boy, and can't expect men's wages."
Ben had no idea, as we know, of engaging to work for Deacon Pitkin at all; but he decided that the easiest way to avoid it was to put such a value on his services as to frighten the old man.
"I am almost as strong as a man," he said, "and I can earn a great deal more than my board the first year."
"I might be willin' to give you twenty dollars the first year," said the deacon.
"I've been thinking," said Ben soberly, "that I ought to have a hundred and fifty dollars and board the first year."
Deacon Pitkin fairly gasped for breath. He was fairly overpowered by Ben's audacity.
"A-hundred-and-fifty-dollars!" he ejaculated, turning his wrinkled face toward our hero.
"That's about the figure," said Ben cheerfully. "A hundred and fifty dollars and board, or three hundred dollars, and I'll board with my uncle."
"Is the boy crazy?" asked the deacon, in a bewildered tone.