"Sit down a minute," said Mr. Antis, busily writing meantime. "There's yesterday's paper if you like to look it over." Eben took the paper and looked over the news, but I suspect he did not "take the sense of it" to any great degree. Presently, Mr. Antis sealed his letter and laid down his pen.
"Well, Eben, I suppose you know that Tow Wilbur has gone for good?"
"Yes, sir. He told me so the same day. He said he had got his walking-paper."
"Did he seem to be sorry?"
"No, sir, I can't say he did. He never liked the mill, and I think he was rather glad to get away from it."
"I am sure I was glad to get rid of him," said Mr. Antis. "I don't think, however, I should have discharged him on account of the horses if he had showed any sorrow for what he had done, but he did not seem to care in the least. What did he say to you? I have a particular reason for wishing to know," he added, as Eben hesitated; "unless I had, I should not ask you such a question, for I don't believe in tattling."
"Well, he didn't seem to care, I must say," replied Eben. "He said it wasn't very pleasant to stand at the head of a pair of horses for half an hour, and so on. I got real mad myself and ordered him out of the garden, which I suppose I had no business to do," said Eben, in a tone of apology, "but he riled me so I couldn't stand it."
"I am glad you did," said Mr. Antis. "Yes, there's just where it is. 'Not very pleasant' will always be reason enough for Tom, no matter how necessary or desirable the business may be. No, I won't take him back," added he. "My mind is quite made up to that. He'll never be good for anything. I never could trust him. Well, the next thing is, do you want his place?"
Eben coloured, and did not exactly know what to say.
"Yes or no," said Mr. Antis, "because if you want the place, why, the place wants you, and if you don't, why, I must look out for somebody else."