"I suppose you are thinking of home."
"I must admit I am. To tell the truth, I am afraid my mother is not very happy."
"I fear you are right." Mrs. Vernon sighed. "With your mother, it is her husband, while with me, it is my nephew. Ah, if only everything in this world would go right for once!"
"Well, we have to take things as they come, and make the best of them," replied our hero.
The next day there was a letter for him from his mother. In this Mrs. Talbot mentioned his communications, and told how she had come to let her husband have the thirteen thousand dollars. She concluded by stating that she was afraid she had made a big mistake.
"I am certain she has made a big mistake," said Robert to himself. "Mr. Talbot will never give the money back, and I know it. I think she is doing enough by supporting him. I don't believe he has done a stroke of work since he was sick."
Robert soon felt at home, and on the third day went down to the river to take a row, a pastime of which he had been fond while at home.
As he passed to the dock where boats could be hired, he ran plump into a red-headed boy named Sammy Gump. Sammy was strong and heavy set, and had been the bully of Chishing for several years.
"Hullo, Yankee, where are you going?" he demanded, as he pushed Robert roughly.
"I am going to attend to my own business," replied our hero quietly. "Have you any objection?"