`` Bob Marks , '' said Uncle Richard briefly . `` I 've sold Laddie to him . '' Ernest Hughes , the twelve-year-old orphan boy whom Uncle `` boarded and kept '' for the chores he did , suddenly stopped eating . `` Oh , Mr. Lawson , you 're not going to sell Laddie ? '' he cried chokily . Uncle Richard stared at him . Never before , in the five years that Ernest had lived with him , had the quiet little fellow spoken without being spoken to , much less ventured to protest against anything Uncle Richard might do . `` Certainly I am , '' answered the latter curtly . `` Bob offered me twenty dollars for the dog , and he 's coming after him next week . '' `` Oh , Mr. Lawson , '' said Ernest , rising to his feet , his small , freckled face crimson . `` Oh , do n't sell Laddie ! Please , Mr. Lawson , do n't sell him ! '' `` What nonsense is this ? '' said Uncle Richard sharply . He was a man who brooked no opposition from anybody , and who never changed his mind when it was once made up . `` Do n't sell Laddie ! '' pleaded Ernest miserably . `` He is the only friend I 've got . I ca n't live if Laddie goes away . Oh , do n't sell him , Mr. Lawson ! ''
`` Sit down and hold your tongue , '' said Uncle XXXXX sternly .
Bob Ernest Hughes Laddie Lawson Marks Richard dollars twelve-year-old years