"I will think about that while I am riding," said Beechnut, "and tell you what I conclude upon it when I return. Perhaps we shall have to refer that question to Mr. Wallace, too." So Beechnut drove away, and the boys went back into the shop. Here they resumed their work of putting the tools in order, and while doing so, they continued their conversation about the question of priority. "_I_ think," said Phonny, "that you had abundance of time to consider whether you would accept the offer." "We might leave that question to Wallace, too," said Stuyvesant. "Yes," said Phonny, "let's go now and ask him." "Well," said Stuyvesant, "I am willing." "Only," said Phonny, "we must not tell him what the question is about." "No," said Stuyvesant. So the boys went together up to Wallace's room. They found him in his alcove as before. They advanced to the table, and Wallace looked up to them to hear what they had to say. "B. had an hour to consider of his offer," said Phonny, "don't you think that that was enough?" Phonny was very indiscreet, indeed, in asking the question in that form, for it showed at once that whatever might be the subject of the discussion, he was not himself the person represented by B. It was now no longer possible for Wallace to look at the question purely in its abstract character. "Now I know," said Wallace, "which is B., and of course you may as well tell me all about it." Phonny looked at Stuyvesant with an expression of surprise and concern upon his countenance. "No matter," said Stuyvesant, "let us tell him the whole story." Phonny accordingly explained to Wallace, that the contract related to the care of the hen-house and the hens,--that it was first offered to Stuyvesant, that Stuyvesant did not accept it for an hour or two, and that in the course of that time he, Phonny, had himself applied for it. He concluded by asking Wallace if he did not think that an hour was a reasonable time.