"Alger Jr, Horatio - Joe the Hotel Boy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

"But I insist," came from Ned. "I won't touch them otherwise."

"All right, you can pay me for what I caught."

"No, I want to pay for all of them. Your time is worth
something, and I know you have to support your--the old hermit
now."

"All right, Ned, have your own way. Yes, I admit, I need all the
money I get."

"Is the old hermit very sick?"

"Not so sick, but his rheumatism keeps him from going out hunting
or fishing, so all that work falls to me."

"It's a good deal on your shoulders, Joe."

"I make the best of it, for there is nothing else to do."

"By the way, Joe, you once spoke to me about--well, about
yourself," went on Ned, after some hesitation. "Did you ever
learn anything more? You need not tell me if you don't care to."

At these words Joe's face clouded for an instant.

"No, I haven't learned a thing more, Ned."

"Then you don't really know if you are the hermit's nephew or
not?"

"Oh, I think I am, but I don't know whatever became of my
father."

"Does the hermit think he is alive?"

"He doesn't know, and he hasn't any means of finding out."

"Well, if I were you, I'd find out, some way or other."

"I'm going to find out--some day," replied Joe. "But, to tell
the truth, I don't know how to go at it. Uncle Hiram doesn't
like to talk about it. He thinks my father did wrong to go away.

I imagine they had a quarrel over it."

"Has he ever heard from your father since?"

"Not a word."