“Your services will be worth it. I will expect you, then, to-morrow morning at eight. You are married, I suppose?”
“Yes, sir. I am blessed with a good wife.”
“I am glad of that. Stay a moment.”
The merchant went to his desk, and presently returned with a scaled envelope.
“Give that to your wife,” he said.
The interview terminated, and the cooper went home, quite elated by his success. His present engagement would enable him to bridge over the dull time, and save him from incurring debt, of which he had a just horror.
“Just in time,” said Mrs. Crump. “We've got an apple-pudding to-day.”
“You haven't forgotten what I like, Mary.”
“There's no knowing how long you will be able to afford puddings,” said Aunt Rachel. “To my mind it's extravagant to have meat and pudding both, when a month hence you may be in the poor-house.”
“Then,” said Jack, “I wouldn't eat any.”