Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/63

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Two Little Pilgrims' Progress
51

he went on; "but I thought I wouldn't say anything about it until—till I tried how it would work."

Meg raised herself on her elbow and looked at him curiously. It seemed so queer that he should have had a plan too.

"Have you tried?" she said.

"Yes," he answered. "I have been working for Jones this morning, and I did quite a lot. I worked hard. I wanted him to see what I could do. And then—Meg, I asked him if he would take me on—like the rest of the hands—and pay me what I was worth."

"And what did he say?" said Meg breathlessly.

"He looked at me a minute all over, and half laughed, and I thought he was going to say I wasn't worth anything. It wouldn't have been true, but I thought he might because I'm only twelve years old. It's pretty hard to be only twelve when you want to get work. But he didn't; he said, 'Well I'm darned if I won't give you a show.' And I'm to have fifty cents a week."

"Robin!" Meg cried, with a gasp of excitement. "So am I."

"So are you?" cried Robin, and sat bolt upright. "You!"

"It's—it's because we are twins,"said Meg, her eyes shining like lamps. "I told you twins did things