He passed a busy day, therefore, and hardly went into the street.
Just at nightfall, as he was in the front yard, he was rather surprised to see Tom Davenport open the gate and enter.
"What does he want, I wonder ?" he thought, but he said, in a civil tone: "Good-evening, Tom." "You're out of business, ain't you ?" asked Tom abruptly.
"I'm not out of work at any rate!" answered Ben.
"Why, what work are you doing ?" interrogated Tom, in evident disappointment.
"I've been doing some jobs about the house, for mother." "That won't give you a living," said Tom disdainfully.
"Very true." "Did you expect to stay in the store ?" asked Tom.
"Not after I heard that your father had bought it," answered Ben quietly.
"My father's willing to give you work," said Tom.
"Is he ?" asked Ben, very much surprised.
It occurred to him that perhaps he would have a chance to remain in the store after all, and for the present that would have suited him.
Though he didn't like the squire, or Mr.Kirk, he felt that he had no right, in his present circumstances, to refuse any way to earn an honest living.
"Yes," answered Tom.

"I told him he'd better hire you." "You did!" exclaimed Ben, more and more amazed.

"I didn't expect that.

However, go on, if you please." "He's got three cords of wood that he wants sawed and split," said Tom, "and as I knew how poor you were I thought it would be a good chance for you." You might have thought from Tom's manner that he was a young lord, and Ben a peasant.

Ben was not angry, but amused.
"It is true," he said.