"He was! Then he told you all this. I might have known it!"
"Thee may as well remain calm, Neal. Thee will gain nothing in this world by giving vent to undue excitement. John Franklin told me nothing, except that thee had left his home, and he had supposed thee was with me. He did not tell me of the gold, but he did say he feared thee was extravagant, in which I agreed with him. Thee has nothing to find fault with in what he said."
Neal felt rather ashamed of himself. After all, it had been generous in his brother-in-law not to prejudice his guardian against him.
"And now what does thee wish to do?" asked the old man, as he looked at his large gold-faced watch.
"I want to get some work," replied Neal.
"Is thee willing to take anything thee can get?"
"Yes, almost anything," with a hasty glance at the piles of lumber without.
"Does thee know that times are hard, and it is almost impossible for even young men of experience to get a situation, while thee is but a boy?"
"Ye-es. I suppose so."
"Thee need not expect much salary."