Jasper rose from the chair on which he had been sitting.
“Then I may as well go,” he said. “I am disappointed in you, Ropes. I thought you were a good, whole souled fellow, and not a miser.”
“You must think of me as you please, Jasper. I feel that I have a right to regulate my own affairs.”
“All I have to say is this, if you lose your place as you may very soon, don’t come round to the store and expect to be taken back.”
“I won’t,” answered Rodney, smiling. “I wouldn’t go back at any rate unless the charge of theft was withdrawn.”
“That will never be!”
“Let it be so, as long as I am innocent.”
Jasper left the room abruptly, not even having the politeness to bid Rodney good evening.
Rodney felt that he was quite justified in refusing to lend Jasper money. Had he been in need he would have obliged him, though he had no reason to look upon him as a friend.
No one who knew Rodney could regard him as mean or miserly. Could he have read Jasper’s thoughts as he left the house he would have felt even less regret at disappointing him.