Rupert looked astonished and disgusted.
“I didn’t know you hired out to saw and split wood,” he said, with another sneer.
“Now you do know it, I suppose you will cut my acquaintance,” said Harry, pleasantly.
“I suppose you have a right to suit yourself. You wouldn’t catch me sawing and splitting wood. We leave that to the servants.”
“You couldn’t give me a job, could you? However, it would be of no use. I only work for Tom.”
Rupert shrugged his shoulders, and his attention was drawn to Tom’s old skates.
“Those skates look as if they dated back to the ark,” said he, rudely.
“I don’t think they are quite so old as that,” returned Tom, coolly.
“They are a curiosity, anyway.”
“They can do good service, Rupert, that is, when Tom wears them,” said Harry. “In spite of our fine club-skates, I believe we should find it hard work to keep up with him.”