factory, Bert overtook Luke Crandall, who

the news, Bert?"

what

be discharged; you and I

opping short, and surveying hi

wish it

s the r

and he has hired a man from out of town

o put it in?" asked Ber

end of this week we

to do?" Bert inqui

re in Bradford, and I am going there to tend in the st

ly. "This has come on me so suddenl

e for a boy in Lakeville, unle

rs are supplied with help. Besides, they generally pay a boy in h

Marlowe y

is my moth

something for you o

d Bert. "He appears to feel

efore noon the bad news was confirmed, and the boys were informe

she had never dreamed of. She supposed Bert was sure of continued employment in

aid. "There is no other shop in Lakeville.

of any kind here outsi

e the other bo

ncle's shop at Bradford, and the o

e place for you. We are near relations, a

n to consider

n Bert's behalf. Accordingly, in the evening, she said to him. "Bert, I am going

, mo

to prevent her applying to the squire for a special favor. Perhaps he was too proud, but it was

e bell of her cousin's handsome house. It was a call f

lowe in?" s

l see,

home, and she was ushe

see his cousin. He guessed the errand that brought

d, in a distant tone.

Albert," she said. "Bert tells me that

the only one. There

rbolt. I had no idea that he was i

arton. It is a business necessity that c

siness ne

pegging machine. It will do the work cheaper an

as they were? You may gain something, but yo

eep up with the times. Other manufacturers are making the change, and I

do know that in dismissing Bert you deprive us of more

find somethi

Lakeville? I shall be grateful

get a chance to

nd even if there were one he would not get mon

said the squire vaguely. "If he looks ro

on shook

le," she answered. "Isn't there some other depart

lowe shook

g for any other

at are w

initely. "He is to be in the shop the rest of the week

out any hope!" said M

be despondent. Some

d face made the squire vaguely unc

ening," he said awkwardly, "or I would in

, Albert," she said. "I will be going," and sh

hen. I am glad t

f sorrow to respond to what she knew to be insincere and unmeaning. S

come guest. "Mary Barton would have had me postpone all improvements in my shop for the sake of keeping

slowly, musing bitterly on h

s, or the prospect of our hardships. He lives in a fine house, and rears his fam

vidence; but there had been sorrows in her life which had robbed her of her natural hopefulness,

f the darkness, a man's figure advanced from

asked faintly, su

," was the reply, "I am yo