confident of obtaining Harry. "I hope you won't neither of ye regret
it."

His tone clearly indicated that he really hoped and expected they
would. "I bid ye good night."

"I'll hev the cow back ag'in," said the squire to himself. "He
needn't hope no massy. If he don't hev the money ready for me when
the time is up, he shan't keep her."

The next morning he was under the unpleasant necessity of reengaging
Abner.

"Come to think on't, Abner," he said, "I guess I'd like to hev you
stay longer. There's more work than I reckoned, and I guess I'll
hev to have somebody."

This was at the breakfast table. Abner looked around him, and
after making sure that there was nothing eatable left, put down
his knife and fork with the air of one who could have eaten more,
and answered, deliberately: "Ef I stay I'll hev to hev more wages."

"More wages?" repeated Squire Green, in dismay. "More'n ten dollars?"

"Yes, a fellow of my age orter hey more'n that."

"Ten dollars is a good deal of money."

"I can't lay up a cent off'n it."