"I mean that when I came to work for you seven months ago, you
promised that, if I suited after six months, you would raise my
wages. And you haven't done so," said the young fellow, firmly.

For a moment the proprietor of the Emporium was dumb. It was
true. He had promised just that. He had got the boy cheaper by
so doing. But never before had he hired a boy who stayed as long
as six months, so he had never had to raise his wages.

"Well, well!"

He stammered for a moment; then a shrewd thought came to his
mind. He actually smiled. When Mr. Dwight smiled it was worse
than when he didn't.

"I told you that if you suited me I'd raise your pay, did I?" he
snarled. "Well, you don't suit me. You never have suited me.
Therefore, you get no raise, young man."

Hiram was not astonished; he was only indignant. Another boy
might have expressed his anger by flaring up and tendering his
resignation on the spot.

But Hiram had that fear of debt in his breast which is almost
always a characteristic of the frugal, country-bred person. He
had saved little. He had no prospect of another job. And every
Saturday night he was expected to pay Mrs. Atterson three dollars
and a half.