Edmund wasn't quite sure he heard Tobias right.  Hiring - his sister too?

No.  No way.  Too good to be true.

"Six pence," Mable repeated, awe and wonder in her voice.  "Mr. Appleton, thank you very much!  This is a very amazing opportunity, you won't regret it!  I promise!"

Eyes wide but never straying from Tobias, Edmund reached out and placed his hand on Mable's shoulder.

"Very generous, sir," he agreed, "I would be very grateful if - if Mable could work alongside me.  If she could come along at all.  Thank - thank you very much."

It was too good to be true!  One shilling and three pence a day plus Mable's six pence a day, and - what had he said?  A weeks worth of work?  Edmund didn't know why he was bothering to think of his, he couldn't do math.

"Um, the hay - and potatoes, none of that will be any trouble at all for us.  I look forward to starting working."

"Easy even!" Mable added.  "We'll be the best workers you've ever seen!  Thank you, thank you again!"  If it weren't for Edmund's hand restricting her, the boy knew she'd jump right over the table and hug this man.  Her eyes were sparking, and it was amazing her face didn't hurt with how hard she was grinning.