A Colonial Wooing
have so little I can call my own, have I not strength enough in these arms to earn more than my own living? They were strong enough on one occasion, and I think have been stronger. Come, doggie, old fellow, it's time we were going, or William will be sounding an alarm, thinking I am lost." And John Bishop laughed in a cheery way as he retraced his steps; and far sooner than he had made the journey from his shop to the three beeches he was back, and never knew that he had missed his dinner and kept the folks waiting and wondering.
"They have been asking after thee, John," William announced as soon as he entered the shop; "thee has not been to thy dinner."
"Oh, I nibbled a beech-nut and tried to solve a problem and—didn't," replied John, cheerfully. "But who has been here? Thee seems to have had company, from the placing of these broken chairs, which were hardly safe to offer heavy guests."
"Martin Nutt and Matthew Watson have been here. Martin called to see thee about
83
