“Come, Philip,” said the squire, condescending to assume a persuasive manner, “you must remember that I am your guardian.”
“I dispute that,” said Philip.
“I won’t insist upon your going back with me to Norton, as long as you are able to support yourself.”
“Then you wouldn’t advise me to go back to the poorhouse,” said Philip, with some sarcasm in his voice.
“I didn’t mean to have you stay there long,” said the squire, rather confused. “You’d better give me most of your money, and I’ll take care of it for you, and when you’re twenty-one you’ll have quite a little sum.”
“I am much obliged to you, sir, but I won’t put you to the trouble of taking care of my money,” answered Philip coldly.
Squire Pope continued to argue with Philip, but made no impression. At length he was obliged to say good night.
“I will call round in the morning,” he said, at parting. “Perhaps you’ll listen to reason then.”
When he called round in the morning he learned to his disappointment that Philip was gone.