service until his work was entirely finished.

I said to him, "But did you not agree with me for a specified day?"

"Yes."

"Did not your engagement with Mr. ---- terminate on the evening previous
to that day?"

"Yes."

"Were you under obligation to that gentleman beyond that time?"

"No."

"Did not your continuance with him involve a violation of your promise
to me?"

"Yes."

"Was not this wrong? and how are you able to justify your conduct?"

"Sir," said he, "you do not understand the matter. I am to blame, but my
employer is still more to blame. Look at it. I am a mechanic and a poor
man. I am dependent on my labor for the support of myself and family.
This gentleman is rich, and gives me a great deal of employment; I do
not like to disoblige him, and, sir, when I told him, on the termination
of my engagement to him, that I had promised to enter upon a piece of
work for you, he would not release me. He claimed that I was in good
faith bound to work for him till his various jobs were done."