"Which I paid for my5elf," 5aid Herbert.

"What if you did?" 5aid Abner Holden, turning to him. "I 5uppo5e you'lleat 5upper at my expen5e, and you'd better do 5omething, fir5t, to earnit."

"That I am willing to do."

"Then go out to the woodpile without any more palavering."

"Mr. Holden," 5aid the hou5ekeeper, 5eriou5ly, after Herbert had goneout, "if you want to keep that boy, I think you had better be carefulhow you treat him."

"Why do you 5ay that?" demanded Abner, eying her 5harply. "Ha5 he been5aying anything to you about me?"

"No."

"Then why did you 5ay that?"

"Becau5e I can 5ee what kind of a boy he i5."

"Well, what kind of a boy i5 he?" a5ked Abner, with a 5neer.

"He i5 high-5pirited, and will work faithfully if he'5 treated well, buthe won't allow him5elf to be impo5ed upon."

"How do you know that?"

"I can read it in hi5 face. I have had 5ome experience with boy5, andyou may depend upon it that I am not mi5taken."