“The first thing to settle,” she said decidedly, “is Midas! He can help us in a dozen ways if he will, for he is really wonderfully handy for a boy of his age. He will do nothing unless we consult him formally, and make a definite business arrangement, but it pleases him and won’t hurt us, as it will be only a few coppers. He is saving up for a motor-car at the present moment, and Wallace says that by steady attention to business he really believes he will get one by the time he is sixty.”
We called Midas in and consulted him professionally. He is tall and lanky, and has pale blue eyes with long light eyelashes. You would think to look at him that he was a gentle, unworldly creature, addicted to poetry, but he isn’t! He sat astride the table and viewed the landscape o’er.
“The first thing will be to take every stick of furniture out of the room, and have the carpet up. I know what girls are when they do jobs of this kind. You will be up to your eyes in paste, and it won’t be safe to leave anything within touching distance. The furniture must be removed and stored. I’ll store it for you in my room. Then you’ll need a ladder, and some planks for the lengths of paper to lie on while you paste ’em. I’ll hire you the old shutter from the drawing-room.”
“The shutters are as much mine as yours,” said Lorna. “I don’t need to hire them; I can have them if I want!”
“That’s where you show your ignorance, my dear. They are in my possession, and I won’t give them up without compensation. Then you’ll need a man to assist in the hanging!”
“Say a boy at once, and name your price, and be done with it. You are a regular Shylock!”
Midas grinned as if pleased with the compliment, drew a pocket-book and a stubby end of a pencil from his pocket, and began alternately stroking his chin and jotting down words and figures. Lorna grimaced at me behind his back, but kept a stern expression for his benefit. I suppose she knew that if he saw her smile prices would go up. Presently he drew a line, tore the leaf out of the book and handed it across with a bow.
“My estimate, ladies! It is always more satisfactory to have an agreement beforehand.”
I peeped over Lorna’s shoulder and read—
Estimate For Proposed Renovations.