Harvey had planned carefully. He meant to depart the next night, and the next day he trudged up the hill and paid Miss Sue twenty-five dollars on account of his debt. That might quiet her for a while in case she learned of his departure too soon.
Miss Sue took the money, and the severe expression she had worn when Harvey appeared softened.
“Well, I will say, Harvey, you've done better at keeping your word than I ever thought you would. Bein' a saint has n't hurt you any—I 'll say that. I'll mark this down on the back of your note, and keep good track of it, and I only hope you keep on the same way.”
“So do I,” said Harvey. “How's Lem carryin' on?”
“He's a trial,” Miss Susan said, “but I'll bear him.”
“You don't want I should take him away?”
“Harvey Redding, that boy stays until you get me paid the last cent you owe me. A bargain is a bargain.”
Harvey sighed.
“Well—” he said, and went away.
That night he departed from Riverbank and Miss Sue put the saint's five crisp bills in her purse.