he doubted whether he was doing right to stay.

"Austin, how much longer are you going to lie around this house? You have
not done a day's work in weeks. I can't stand your idleness much longer.
Why can you not be like your brothers?" growled Mr. Hill one morning a day
or two after Thanksgiving.

Austin said nothing, for he had exhausted all his arguments; but at that
instant a determination formed itself in his mind to put a stop to the
whole affair. When his father had gone to the engine-room he went to the
attic and brought down his best suit of clothes and, coming into the
kitchen, prepared to brush and press them. When he put the irons on the
stove, Amy noticed what he was about to do.

"You can't press those clothes this morning, for I am going to use the
irons," she said in a fretful voice.

"I shall have to use them, Amy, but it will not take long."

"You can't have them, so there! You always want to do just your way, no
matter what we want to do."

"Did you hear what Father said this morning?" asked Austin.

"He didn't say any more than he is always saying," she said a little less
fretfully.

"He will not have to say anything of the kind again, for I am going to find
work and not coming back till I have it," said Austin.