."

"How do you think you'll like livin' there?"

"I don't think I shall like it."

Mr. Bickford looked surprised.

"I'll keep you at work so stiddy you won't mind where you are," he
remarked dryly.

"Not if I know it," Kit said to himself.

He knew Mr. Bickford by reputation. He was a close-fisted, miserly man,
who was not likely to be a very desirable employer, for he expected
every one who worked for him to labor as hard as himself. Moreover, he
and his wife lived in a very stingy manner, and few of the luxuries of
the season appeared on their table. The fact that complaints upon this
score had been made by some of Kit's predecessors in his employ, led Mr.
Bickford to make inquiries with a view to ascertaining whether Kit was
particular about his food.

"Are you partic'lar about your vittles?" he asked abruptly.

"I have been accustomed to good food," answered Kit.

"You can't expect to live as you have at your uncle's," continued the
blacksmith. "Me and my wife have enough to eat, but we think it best to
eat plain food. Some of my help have had stuck up notions, and expected
first class hotel fare, but they didn't get it at my house."

"I believe you," said Kit.

Mr. Bickford eyed him sharply, not being sure but this might be a
sarcastic observation, but Kit's face was straight, and betrayed
nothing.

"You'll live as well as I do myself," he proceeded, after a pause. "I
don't pamper my appetite by no means."

Kit was quite ready to believe this also, but did not say so.

"What time did you get up at your uncle's?" asked the blacksmith.

"We have breakfast a little before eight. I get up in time for
breakfast."

"You do, hey?" ejaculated the blacksmith, scornfully. "Wa'al, I declare!
You must be tuckered out gettin' up so airly."

"O no, I stand it very well, Mr. Bickford," said Kit, amused.

"Do you know what time I get up?" asked Mr. Bickford, with a touch of
indignation in his tone.

"I would like to know," answered Kit meekly.

"Wa'al, I get up at five o'clock. What do you say to that, hey?"

"I think it is very early."

"I suppose you couldn't get up so early as that?"

"I might, if there was any need of it."

"I reckon there will be need of it if you're goin' to work for me."

Kit cleared his throat. He felt that the time had come for an
explanation.

"Mr. Bickford," he said, "I owe you an apology."

"What?" said Bickford, regarding his young companion in surprise.

"I have