Wallace took the wallet, opened it as he rode along, and found that there was a quarter of a dollar in one of the pockets.
“Is that your money?” said Wallace.
“Yes,” said Phonny.
“Then you are not near as much of a boy as I thought you were. To be able to save money, so as to have a stock on hand for any unexpected emergency, is one of the greatest proofs of manliness. I had no idea that you were so much of a man.”
Phonny laughed. At first Wallace supposed that this laugh only expressed the pleasure which Phonny felt at having deserved these praises, but as he gave back the wallet into Phonny’s hands, he perceived a very mysterious expression upon his countenance.
“That’s the money,” said Phonny, “that my mother just gave me for my next fortnight’s allowance.”
“Then you have had no opportunity to spend it at all?”
“No,” said Phonny.
Phonny thought that he was sinking himself in his cousin’s estimation by this avowal, but he was in fact raising himself very much by evincing so much honesty.
“He is not willing to receive commendation that he knows he does not deserve,” thought Wallace to himself. “That is a good sign. That is a great deal better trait of character than to be able to lay up money.”