“You mean because you promised to help me to-day, David?” said Mr. Atkins.
“Yes, sir—and do make Joel stop.” David was now in such a panic that Mr. Atkins came out from behind the counter. “See here, Joe,” and he seized his arm, “you get up on Davie’s barrel an’ set still if you can.” And before Joel quite knew how, there he was, and the storekeeper and Davie were settling matters by themselves.
“You see,” Mr. Atkins was saying, “it’s quite lucky that I want to set about some things to-day in the store where you can’t help me, Davie.”
“Can’t I, Mr. Atkins?” cried David.
“No; fact is, I’d ruther you’d come to-morrow, ’nstead o’ to-day,” said Mr. Atkins decidedly. “You can go fishing as well as not. Hop down, Joe.”
No need to tell Joel. He was off the sugar-barrel and down by David’s side in a twinkling.
“Got any fish-pole, Davie?” asked the storekeeper. He was back by the counter now, and rummaging on his shelves.
Before David could answer, Joel piped, “Yes—we made ’em.”
“An’ fish-hooks?” Mr. Atkins went on, bending over to get a small box on the lower shelf.
“Yes, yes,” said Joel. “Mrs. Blodgett gave us some big pins. Come on, Dave.”