"Yes, I am glad of it."
"I feel grateful to you for believing in my innocence."
"It's all right," said Percy, in a patronizing tone. "Even if you are a working boy, I was sure you wouldn't steal."
Bert's feelings cooled a little. Somehow Percy's manner kept him aloof.
"Yes, I am a working boy," he replied, "or at any rate I would like to be, but I don't find it easy to get work."
"Just so! If I hear of anything I will let you know. Good-morning!"
"I don't know what to make of Percy," thought Bert, perplexed. "He was as kind as he could be this morning, and now he is offish. At any rate, he didn't believe me guilty, and I won't forget that in a hurry."
Two more weeks passed, and Bert still found himself unable to find employment. Berries had become so plenty that he was unable to sell any, and only picked some for consumption at home. The sum of money which had been received from Uncle Jacob gradually dwindled, and Bert became alarmed. What would they do when it was all gone? He had no doubt that Uncle Jacob would give them further assistance, if appealed to, but both he and his mother felt that it would be an imposition on the old man, with his limited fund of money, to ask anything more of him.
"I don't want any more of Uncle Jacob's money, mother," said Bert; "but I should like to ask him if he could find me a place in New York."
"I couldn't bear to have you leave me, Bert."