“He’s a perfect pig,” exclaimed Mrs. Middleton, when our hero had left the room. “I never in all my born days saw a boy eat so much.”
“He certainly has a good appetite,” said Nathan.
“He’ll eat us out of house and home,” said the lady indignantly.
“But you must remember, my dear, how well we are paid. You get six dollars a week clear profit, while out of my fourteen I have to pay the large expense of his board.”
“True,” said Mrs. Middleton, more calmly, “viewed in that light, it is well to keep him. But I ask you, Mr. Middleton, is it well to yield to all his unreasonable demands?”
“Why, my dear, we must try to keep him contented or he will go away.”
“I hate him!” exclaimed Mrs. Middleton, with energy.
“I can’t say I like him,” said Nathan, “but I like the money I am to receive from him.”
The two talked together for an hour, Tom being the staple of their conversation. They were about to retire for the night, when a series of noises of a startling character resounded through the house, evidently proceeding from Tom’s chamber.
“Goodness gracious!” exclaimed Mrs. Middleton. “What’s the matter?”