“Then I’ll do a good job. You shall have as nice a suit as any boy in the village. You deserve it, too, Grant, for you’re a hard-working boy.”
“Just say that to Mr. Tarbox when you meet him,” said Grant, smiling, “for I am afraid he doesn’t fully appreciate me.”
As Grant left the tailor’s shop he met Rodney at the door. Rodney found the farm rather a slow place, and had made a second visit to the village.
“Hallo,” he exclaimed, “have you been into the tailor’s?”
“You can ask Mr. Shick, if you like. I’m in a hurry.”
Rodney decided to act on this suggestion.
“How do you do, Mr. Shick?” he said politely, for he wanted to get some information. “I see Grant has just been in here.”
“Would you mind showing me the cloth?” he asked. “I might like to get a suit myself.”
“I shall be happy to fill your order. This is the cloth.”
“How much do you charge for a suit off this cloth?”
“Twenty dollars is what I charged Grant.”
It must be explained that Shick, being in the country, was obliged to put his prices a good deal lower for the same article than if he lived in the city.
“Well, I hope you’ll get your pay,” said Rodney shortly.
“I shan’t trouble myself about that. Grant is an honest boy.”
Rodney left the shop abruptly, and, going into the street, came face to face with his grandfather.
“Grandfather,” he said, “I’ve got some news for you.”
“Grant has ordered a suit of Mr. Shick, for which the price is twenty dollars.”
“You don’t mean it?” ejaculated the farmer.
“Yes, I do. I suppose the bill will be sent to you,” added Rodney, desirous of making trouble.
“I won’t pay it!” exclaimed Seth Tarbox excitedly.
Seth Tarbox entered the shop, looking flurried.
“Is it true, Mr. Shick,” he said abruptly, “that Grant has ordered a twenty-dollar suit of you?”
“If you expect me to pay for it, you’ll be disappointed. Did Grant tell you to charge it to me?”
“No; he said he would pay for it himself.”
“I suppose he expects to get the money out of his mother,” continued Mr. Tarbox, feeling somewhat relieved. “It will be a shame to make her pay so much. Why, I don’t pay that for my own suits.”
“Why don’t you?” asked the tailor bluntly. “You can afford it.”
“I don’t believe in throwing away money,” answered Seth shortly.