`Oh, Dick, don't talk like that. Anything that he said
was only to do you a kindness, and Jim.'

`Hang him, and his kindness too,' I said. `Let him keep it
for those that want it. But what did he tell you?'

`He said, first of all,' answered poor Aileen, with the tears in her eyes,
and trying to take hold of my hand, `that he had a contract
for fencing timber, which he had taken at good prices, which he would share
with you and Jim; that he knew you two and himself could finish it
in a few weeks, and that he expected to get the contract for the timber
for the new bridge at Dargo, which he would let you go shares in too.
He didn't like to speak about that, because it wasn't certain;
but he had calculated all the quantities and prices,
and he was sure you would make 70 or 80 Pounds each before Christmas.
Now, was there any harm in that; and don't you think it was very good of him
to think of it?'

`Well, he's not a bad fellow, old George,' I said, `but he's a little too fond
of interfering with other people's business. Jim and I are quite able
to manage our own affairs, as I told him this evening, when I refused
to have anything to do with his fencing arrangement.'

`Oh, Dick, did you?' she said. `What a pity! I made sure
Jim would have liked it so, for only last week he said
he was sick and tired of having nothing to do -- that he should soon lose
all his knack at using tools that he used to be so proud of.
Didn't he say he'd like to join George?'