"You would admire it more if she had a higher appreciation of you."
"I shall be good friends with her, when you are no longer here to slander me to her."
"I am not quite so mean as that," said Robert. "If she chooses to like you, I shan't try to prevent it."
"I ought to be very much obliged to you, I am sure."
"You needn't trouble yourself to be grateful," returned Robert, coolly. "But I must bid you good-by, as I have considerable to do."
"Don't let me detain you," said Halbert, with an elaborate share of politeness.
"I wonder why Halbert hates me so much!" he thought. "I don't like him, but I don't wish him any harm."
He looked with satisfaction upon a little cornelian ring which he wore upon one of his fingers. It was of very trifling value, but it was a parting gift from Hester, and as such he valued it far above its cost.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A DISHONEST BAGGAGE-SMASHER.
On the next Monday morning Robert started for the city. At the moment of parting he began to realize that he had undertaken a difficult task. His life hitherto had been quiet and free from excitement. Now he was about to go out into the great world, and fight his own way. With only two hundred dollars in his pocket he was going in search of a father, who, when last heard from was floating in an open boat on the South Pacific. The probabilities were all against that father's being still alive. If he were, he had no clew to his present whereabouts.