"What did he say?"

"He said that a poor seller was the slave of a rich buyer; but I
think--" Jerome hesitated. He was not used yet to expressing his
independent thought.

"Go on," said the Squire.

"I think it works both ways, and the poor man is the slave either
way, whether he buys or sells," said the boy, half defiantly, half
timidly.

"I guess you're about right," said the Squire, looking at him
curiously. "Ever hear your uncle Ozias Lamb say anything like that?"

"No, sir."

"Thought it yourself, eh?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, let's get to business now," said the Squire. "What you want is
this, if I understand it. You want Doctor Prescott to buy that
wood-lot of your father's for three hundred dollars, or whatever over
that sum he will agree to, and you don't want him to pay you money
down, but give you his note for it, with interest at six per cent.,
for as long a term as he will. You did not say give you a note,
because you did not know about it, but that is what you want."