"Janitor of the boat-house!" exclaimed Paul, opening his eyes very wide.
"And your salary is to be twenty dollars a month," continued Mrs. Bristol. "The captain says his mission is to help those who are willing to help themselves. Besides this, you are to be one of the students, and learn to be a carpenter or a machinist."
"One of the students!" almost screamed Paul.
"But you will have to work while the other students play, my son."
"By the big wooden spoon! I shall be willing to work all night if I can learn what the other fellows learn," replied Paul.
His mother explained to him more fully the intentions of the principal, and the son of toil was more delighted than if a fortune had suddenly dropped into his lap. He knew all about the course of study at Beech Hill, and thought it was the finest school in the world. He had long wished that he might learn a trade, and he would have sought a place with a carpenter before, but he would have to work for nothing at first, and his mother needed the dollar or two a week he could earn.
"When will Paul begin his work as janitor?" asked Mrs. Bristol, as the principal was passing them in the hall.
"At once, Mrs. Bristol. His wages shall begin to-day," replied Captain Gildrock. "But if you want him at the cottage till you get settled we can spare him, though he had better join his class to-day."
"I wanted him to go over to Sandy Point," continued Mrs. Bristol, who then explained the errand upon which she proposed to send Paul. "The tin box contains my wedding ring, my mother's gold ring, and a two-dollar bill. I was afraid to keep them in the house, for rough characters sometimes land at the point. I didn't think of the box till I wanted the money to buy some provisions."