So the next evening the brothers went up to Mr. Bacon's house. That gentleman received them in his library, and at once proceeded to business.
"You both know," he said, "how there was but little insurance on the mills, and that the company was ruined when they were burned. Mr. Lawton was the heaviest loser, and so great was his loss that Mrs. Lawton will be obliged to sell her mansion. She has a small cottage of her own, and hopes to save enough out of the estate to support her and the two children until Edward is able to work for them, I did not have so much invested in the mills, and so have not lost as heavily. Last week I bought a small mill, employing about fifty hands, in the village of Wenton, about twenty miles down the railroad. I want a good, honest fellow to go down there as my superintendent and general overseer, though I shall be down there nearly every day. What do you think, George; would you be willing to go down there for me?"
"Do you think I would do?" asked George, in suppressed excitement. "I would try very hard to suit you."
"I don't doubt it, George. You are honest, and that is the main thing. All the rest, with my shewing, you can easily learn," replied Mr. Bacon, heartily. "I have a nice house down there for you, and will give you, for the present, two dollars a day. You may take your sisters down too, and we'll find work for them."
"How can I thank you, sir?" George answered, turning first red, and then pale, with his intense emotion.
"By doing your best," replied Mr. Bacon. Then he turned to Ray. "I was also going to tell you something this evening, Ray, that I supposed I had the right to," he said, "but Mr. Carleton has convinced me that it is his own exclusive privilege; so, really, I shall have to refer you to him." And he rather enjoyed Ray's puzzled looks.
As the brothers walked down the street on their way home, for Ray was going back to the Forge that night, George said:
"Here for a few weeks I have been distrusting God again, and see just what he has done for me, Ray. I will doubt him no more. I was going to worry over getting down to Wenton, but I won't even do that. God will provide a way."
"He has already," replied Ray, with a smile, "for I have enough money left of what I had saved to take you all down there, and start you off in your new home in good shape. I am so glad for you, George."
"Have you given up the academy?" asked George, anxiously.