Bates spoke of the weather, of the news Trenholme brought from Turrifs Settlement, of the railway—all briefly, and without warmth of interest; then he asked why Trenholme had come.
"You haven't been able to get any one yet to fell your trees for you?"
Bates replied in the negative.
"They think the place is dangerous," said the other, as if giving information, although he knew perfectly that Bates was aware of this. He had grown a little diffident in stating why he had come.
"Fools they are!" said Bates, ill-temperedly.
Trenholme said that he was willing to do the work Bates had wanted a man for, at the same wages.
"It's rough work for a gentlemany young man like you."
Trenholme's face twitched with a peculiar smile. "I can handle an axe. I can learn to fell trees."
"I mean, the living is rough, and all that; and of course" (this was added with suspicious caution) "it wouldn't be worth my while to pay the same wages to an inexperienced hand."
Trenholme laughed. This reception was slightly different from what he had anticipated. He remarked that he might be taken a week on trial, and to this Bates agreed, not without some further hesitation. Trenholme inquired after the health of the old aunt of whom he had heard.