. I pay for two on 'em. He lives on my
premises; and if he doesn't pay up for t'other three, why, he'll jog,
that's all."

Mr. Wilmot said he hoped no one would send to school against their wishes.

"Lord, no," rejoined Mr. Middleton; "old Thornton wants to send bad
enough, only he's stingy like. Let me see your paper, boy."

Mr. Wilmot handed him the paper, and he went on: "Thar's ten scholars at
eight dollars--that makes eighty; then thar's five at eleven dollars, and
fifty-five and eighty makes a hundred and thirty-five; then thar's five
more at fifteen dollars; five times fifteen; five times five is
twenty-five--seventy-five dollars;--seventy-five and a hundred and
thirty-five;--five and five is ten, one to seven is eight, eight and three
is eleven--two hundred and ten dollars! Why, quite a heap! Of course you've
got clothes enough to last a spell, so you can put two hundred out at
interest. I'll take it and give you ten per cent."

Mr. Wilmot smiled at seeing his money so carefully disposed of before it
was earned, but he merely said, "There's my board to be deducted."

"Your what?" asked Mr. Middleton.

"My board, sir. I have no other means of paying it. I find I can get
boarded for a dollar and a half a week."

"The deuce you can," said Mr. Middleton. "Who'll board you for that?"

Mr. Wilmot gave the name of the gentleman, to which Mr. Middleton replied,
"I want to know if he will board you so very cheap!"

"Why, yes. Do you think I should pay more?"

"Pay more!" replied Middleton. "Don't be a fool! Why, here's this infernal
old shell of a house wants filling up, and thar's heaps of horses and
niggers lounging round with nothing to do; then I've plenty of potatoes,
bacon and corn meal--and such fare as we have you're welcome to, without a
dollar and a half, or even a cent and a half."

Mr. Wilmot remonstrated at receiving so much at Mr. Middleton's hands, but
that good man put an end to all further argument by saying, "Do let me act
as I like. You see, I've taken a liking to you, and because I see you
trying to help yourself, I am willing to try and help you. They say, or
Tempest says they say, I'm a rough old bear, and maybe I am; but I'm not
all bad; it's a streak o' fat and a streak o' lean; and if I want to do
you a kindness, pray let me."

So it was settled that Mr. Wilmot should remain in Mr. Middleton's family
during the winter. To Julia this arrangement gave secret satisfaction. She
had from