“He is very kind, Robert. Don’t you think that I ought to call and thank him?”
“What! Call at the cave?”
“Yes!”
“No, aunt,” said Robert hastily. “He would not like to have you. You can wait till you see him. But mind you don’t tell anybody—least of all, Mr. Jones—that you will be able to pay the mortgage. As he is so mean, we want to give him a surprise.”
“Just as you say, Robert. I am glad we’ll be able to disappoint him, for he is certainly a very mean man. Now, when do you want to start for Boston?”
“To-morrow.”
“But how am I going to get ready your shirts and socks so soon?”
“I shall not take any of them.”
“Robert Coverdale, you must be crazy. You can’t wear one shirt for two months if you’re going so long.”
“I don’t expect to, aunt,” said the boy, smiling. “I am going to buy a whole outfit of new things when I get to Boston. The hermit wants me to.”