"Neither would I have done such a thing if you had not given me the provocation; but when I promised to pay three dollars for the use of fifteen one week, you did not seem to think that amount would be the wages of sin."
"At the time I had no idea you would conspire with others to rob me of my hard-earned savings."
"You know very well, Uncle Nathan, that I haven't done any such thing. On the night your store was robbed I staid in the house, and hadn't left it when you came to tell us the news."
"Every person of your class has some such excuse ready in case of an emergency; but that kind of talk will not do with me. If you meant to do the square thing, why was I not told you lost the money I lent you?"
"Because I knew you would raise an awful row, thinking possibly it would not be paid back."
"Have I yet any assurance that it will be?" the old man asked, in a fury.
"Do you need it now?"
"I always need my own."
"And in this case, if I pay you at once, do you think it right to charge me three dollars for the use of fifteen lent two days ago?"
"That was what you promised, and the world gauges a man by the way he keeps his word."