"We are enough sight better off than I thought," replied Paul; "but I don't want to have you make a slave of yourself. You used to work hard enough; and now, if you are going to take in work, you will wear yourself out in a few years."
"I guess not, Paul. There is somebody knocking at the door; go and see who it is."
Paul went to the door, and the visitor proved to be Captain Littleton.
"I was looking for you, Paul," said he. "I'm going to give a dinner party to-morrow, and I want a mess of perch, fresh from the rocks, by twelve o'clock. I want you should go down and catch them for me. You always have good luck at fishing. Will you do this for me, Paul?"
"Yes, sir; certainly I will."
"I will speak to your mother about it."
Paul conducted Captain Littleton into the little parlor, and called his mother. She was willing that he should go, and glad to have him do something in return for the gentleman's repeated acts of kindness.
"I will give you twenty cents a dozen for them, Paul, and I want at least five dozen," continued the captain.
"He will not charge anything, sir," added Mrs. Duncan.