"
Joel advanced to the writing-table and put out a hand for the pencil, which
the old gentleman laid within it, but not before he had taken a good look
at the chubby face above it.
"So Frick and the boys wanted you, eh?" asked Grandpapa carelessly. "Going
somewhere, maybe?"
"Yes," said Joel, not looking up, "they are going to the pond."
"Oh, really?" said old Mr. King. "And you said no, eh, Joel?"
"Yes," said Joel.
"I suppose you didn't want to go, eh, Joel?" said the old gentleman
carelessly, and playing with his paper knife.
Joel's black eyes flew wide open, and he raised his head to stare into
Grandpapa's face.
"Oh, yes, I did, awfully."
"Then why didn't you go?" asked Grandpapa, just as carelessly, and giving
the paper knife an extra twirl or two.
Joel took his gaze off, to regard the pile of books over on the alcove
floor.
"Oh, your work?--is that it, Joel?" asked the old gentleman. "So you
thought you'd rather stay and finish your hour on it, eh, my boy?"
Joel squirmed uneasily. "I hadn't rather," he said at last, "but I'd got
to."
"Eh?" said old Mr. King.
"I said I'd work an hour and not stop," said Joel, as something seemed to
be required of him, the old gentleman waiting for him to finish.
"You mean you'd made the bargain to do this work and you couldn't back
out?" said Grandpapa.
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