Joel's black eyes flew wide open, and he raised his head to stare into
Grandpapa's face.
"Oh, yes, I did, awfully."
"Then why didn't you go?" asked Grandpapa, just as carelessly, and giving the paper knife an extra twirl or two.
Joel took his gaze off, to regard the pile of books over on the alcove floor.
"Oh, your work?—is that it, Joel?" asked the old gentleman. "So you thought you'd rather stay and finish your hour on it, eh, my boy?"
Joel squirmed uneasily. "I hadn't rather," he said at last, "but I'd got to."
"Eh?" said old Mr. King.
"I said I'd work an hour and not stop," said Joel, as something seemed to be required of him, the old gentleman waiting for him to finish.
"You mean you'd made the bargain to do this work and you couldn't back out?" said Grandpapa.
Joel looked up and nodded quickly.