“I reckon you're right. Do you think that Ford feller will send money for your board?”
“I think he will, if he can, for he wants to keep me here; but I don't think he has much money with him.”
“All the worse for marm.”
“Abner,” said Herbert, after a pause, during which he had been thinking seriously, “would you mind running away pretty soon?”
“No, bub; I'm ready any time. Are you in a hurry?”
“You see, Abner, I don't want to live on your mother. She isn't rich—”
“No, I guess not. Ef she hadn't married sech a good-for-nothin' as dad—”
“I wouldn't speak so of your father, Abner.”
“Why not? Isn't it the truth? Dad's no grit. He gits drunk whenever he has a chance. Marm's a good, hard-workin' woman. She'd git along well enough ef she was alone.”
“At any rate, she can't afford to board me for nothing. So I am ready to start whenever you are, Abner.”