“You will take the five dollars I offered you, Ben?”
“Yes, Albert, as a loan, and thank you for your friendly aid. If ever I can do you a favor I will.”
In reply Albert held out his hand, and the two boys interchanged a hearty grasp.
“Well, Ben, you have my best wishes, you know that. You will be sure to write me?”
“Yes, Albert. I will write to you and to my mother.”
Ben had a conference with his mother and obtained her consent to his plan. She was as angry as he at the cold-blooded selfishness of her husband.
“I don’t know whether it’s best or not, Ben,” she said, “but there seems to be no other way. I begin to see my folly now in marrying Jacob Winter.”
“In a few years, mother, I hope you can leave him and come to live with me.”
The next morning when Mr. Winter went up to Ben’s attic chamber to call him, he found that the bird had flown.