"If you succeed, will you move to New York, father?"

"Very probably."

"I hope you will. This village is awfully slow. New York is the place to see life."

"There are some kinds of life it is not profitable to see," said the squire, shrewdly.

"I don't want to be cooped up in a little country village all my life," grumbled James.

"You won't be. Don't trouble yourself on that score."

"It will do well enough for Carter. He isn't fit for anything but a country b.u.mpkin, but it don't suit me."

"Well, James, you must be patient, and things may turn out as you desire."

At the same time Herbert was holding a consultation with his mother.

"My prospects are not very bright here, mother," he said, rather despondently. "I am ready enough to work, but there is no work to be had, so far as I can see."

"You forget your garden, Herbert."

"Yes; that will help us a little; but I can't expect to clear more than twenty dollars out of it, and twenty dollars won't go a great way."

"It is something, Herbert."

"It isn't enough to pay our next interest bill."

Mrs. Carter looked troubled,

"If I could sell the property for what it cost your father I should be tempted to do it."

"You mean for fifteen hundred dollars?"

"Yes; that would give us seven hundred and fifty dollars over the mortgage."

"I should be in favor of selling, too, in that case; but Squire Leech only offers eleven hundred at the outside."

"He ought to be more considerate."

"He wants to make a bargain at your expense, mother. That isn't all.

He is provoked to think you haven't accepted his offer before, and, of course, that won't incline him to be any more liberal." "I am afraid we shall have to part with our home," said the widow, with a sigh.

"There is one hope, mother. I don't like to think of it too much, for fear it won't amount to anything; but father's invention may prove valuable. You know Mr. Cameron's father has agreed to examine it."

"If we could only get two or three hundred dollars for it, it would be a great help."

"If we get anything at all we shall get more. I am afraid we shall have to wait, though, for Mr. Cameron writes me his father is going to Europe for a few months."

"Everything seems against us, Herbert," said his mother, in a despondent tone.

But Herbert was more hopeful.

"If we can only manage to keep along and pay the next interest, I think we'll be all right, mother," he said. "I mean to try, anyway. If there's any work to be had anywhere within five miles, I'll try to obtain it. How much money have you got left, mother?"

"Ten dollars and a half."

"And here are fifteen that Mr. Cameron sent me. No chance of the poorhouse for a month, mother. Before that has gone by something may turn up."

CHAPTER x.x.xI

A NEW START

Harvest came, and for the time Herbert was busy. He could not afford to hire a.s.sistance, and was obliged to do all the work himself. When all was finished, and his share of the vegetables sold, he sat down to count up his profits.

"Well, mother," he asked, "how much money do you think I have made by farming?"

"You expected to make twenty dollars."

"I have cleared twenty-one dollars and a half besides the vegetables I have brought home and stored in the cellar."

"That is doing very well," said Mrs. Carter.

"I have had to work very hard for it," said Herbert, thoughtfully, "and for a good many days. After all, it isn't quite enough to pay our interest."

"The interest doesn't come due for six weeks yet."

"That is true, mother; but six weeks hence we shall be poorer than we are now. We shall have to use some of this money for current expenses, and I know of no way to replace it."

"You may earn some more."

"I don't see any chance--that is, here. There is nothing doing in Wrayburn. If there were any factories or workshops, I might stand a chance of getting something to do."

Mrs. Carter did not reply. She knew that Herbert was right, and she had nothing to suggest.

"I have thought of something" said Herbert; "but you may not like it at first."

"What is it?" asked his mother, with interest.

"Would you have any objection to my going to New York and trying my fortune there?"

Mrs. Carter uttered a little cry of dismay.

"You go to New York--a boy of your age!" she exclaimed.