Page:A Colonial Wooing.djvu/62

 John stopped him before he had taken a second step. "Thy place is here, William; and if thee cannot remain at thy work we must close this partnership."

"Close this partnership!" repeated William, in a surprised and slightly frightened manner; "why, John, I have forty pounds to thy ten, and surely that gives me the advantage."

John smiled, although his temper was yet aroused. "I am not sure what thee means by an advantage, but what would thy forty pounds be without I looked after them and thee and my own interests? It may be forty to ten, but the care and labor is all on my side, and I will gladly buy thee out."

"But what would I do?" asked William, now a good deal worried, for he saw his partner was wholly in earnest and expected a serious reply. "Has thee the ready money?"

"Do? why, spend thy time visiting Ruth; or, better yet, perhaps Neighbor Watson would employ thee on his plantation, and then thee could see her every day." And John threw down a hammer in his hand and looked out the little window near the forge.