The man looked astonished, but he complied with the suggestion, and afterward stated his charge, which was unusually high. Edgar noticed that Grant was watching George with quiet interest.
"I suppose you have a note from Mrs. Marston fixing the price?"
The other explained that the matter had been arranged verbally.
"Was anybody else present when you came to terms?" George asked.
"You can quit feeling, and pay up!" exclaimed the stranger. "I've told you how much it is."
"The trouble is that you're asking nearly double the usual charge per acre."
Grant smiled approvingly, but the man advanced with a truculent air to the table at which George was sitting.
"I've done the work; that's good enough for me."
"You have done it badly, but I'll give you a check now, based on the regular charge, which should come to"—George made a quick calculation on a strip of paper and handed it to the man. "This is merely because you seem in a hurry. If you're not satisfied, you can wait until I get an answer from Mrs. Marston; or I'll ask some of my neighbors to arbitrate."
The man hesitated, with anger in his face.