He was
saying only last night that he was the biggest boy in the school;
and though I know he likes learning, he would like to be helping
me, and feels somehow that it isn't right that he should be going
on schooling, while all the other boys at his age are doing
something. Not that I want him to earn money, for the shop keeps us
both; but it's what he thinks about it."

"That's natural enough, Mrs. Whitney, and anything the boy earns
with me, you see, you can put by, and it will come in useful to him
some day."

Reuben was glad when he heard of the arrangement; for although, as
his mother had said, he was fond of school, he yet felt it as a
sort of reproach that, while others of his age were earning money,
he should be doing nothing. He accepted the offer of the
schoolmaster to continue to work at his studies in the evening, and
in a week he was installed in Tom Finch's place.

The arrangement was not the squire's original idea, but that of his
younger daughter, who felt a sort of proprietary interest in
Reuben; partly because her evidence had cleared him of the
accusation of breaking the windows, partly because he had broken in
the pony for her; so when she heard that the boy was leaving, she
had at once asked her father that Reuben should take his place.

"I think he is a good boy, papa," she said; "and if he was clever
enough to break in my pony, I am sure he will be clever enough to
wheel the wheelbarrow and pull weeds."

"I should think he would, lassie," her father said, laughing,
"although it does not exactly follow. Still, if you guarantee that
he is a good boy, I will see about it."

"Mamma doesn't think he is a very good boy," Kate said; "but you
see, papa, mamma is a woman, and perhaps she doesn't understand
boys and girls as well as I do. I think he's good, and he told me
he never told stories."

The squire laughed.

"I don't know what your mamma would say to that, puss; nor whether
she would agree that you understand boys and girls better than she
does. However, I will take your opinion this time, and give Reuben
a chance."

The subject was not mentioned again in Kate's hearing, but she was
greatly pleased, one morning, at seeing Reuben at work in the
gardens.

"Good morning, Reuben," she said.

"Good morning, miss," he replied, touching his hat.

"I am glad you have come in Tom's place, and I hope you will be
good, and not get into scrapes, for I told papa I thought you would
not; and