There was a slight widening of the eyes when the priest mentioned his concern the boy might get involved with the wrong crowd. That was an issue of concern, not just for the kid himself, but also for Tobias if he hired them. Alice was enough to handle, and they had a young babe that took up what energy was left. And his maid and farmhand, though raised well, were very young. He had a responsibility to keep them far away from bad influences.

And so the appeal to his own Christian duty only went that far. He'd have to keep a close eye on the kid if he were to take him on. "I'll give him a chance. However, if he's a bad influence on my staff" - and wife, but he left that reference to the embarrassing state of his home life unsaid -", he's out. What about his sister? She can't sleep in a barn. Would ye continue to look after 'er while 'er brother is away?" He could hardly ask Jenny and Nat to share with yet another. He supposed they could make another guest room if he moved some junk out of the spare room, but was he going to offer a guest room to someone who worked for him? More importantly, was he willing to take in yet another child?