“Then, really, the property may be considered yours now—at least in part.”
“I suppose so.”
“That’s the way I look at it. Well, I happened to know where my father kept his government bonds, and I borrowed one.”
“Wasn’t that stealing?” asked Philip.
“It would have been if the bond had belonged to a stranger, but, as it was likely to be mine some day, of course, that made it different.”
“What did your father say?” asked Philip, anxiously.
“Oh, he made a fuss; but the bond wasn’t registered, and he hadn’t a memorandum of the number, so he couldn’t do anything. I sold it through a friend, and while the money lasted I was in clover.”
“My father has got some government bonds,” said Philip; “but I shouldn’t dare to take one, although, as you say, they will be mine some day.”
“Suppose your father did find it out—which is not at all likely—you are his son, and you could tell him plainly that your small allowance compelled you to do it.”
“I shouldn’t know how to dispose of the bond, if I did take one.”