"Now, Uncle James, I am ready to meet you," he said to himself, with satisfaction, as he compared the two papers, and then carefully laid away the first in its old place of concealment. "You are welcome to destroy this, if you think it will do you any good."
It was still early, for the paper was not long, and Gilbert decided to go back to the store, and resume his duties until it should be time to start for the Burnet House.
"Where have you been, Gilbert?" asked Maurice Walton, crossly.
"I have been home—to my boarding-house."
"I shouldn't think Mr. Ferguson would like your leaving his business to run home in the middle of the fore-noon."
"He advised me to go."
"I suppose you pretended to have a headache, or something of that kind," said Maurice, with a sneer.
"No, I didn't. I was never better in my life."
"What did you go for, then?"
"It seems to me you are very curious, Maurice," said Gilbert, good-naturedly. "If you must know, I went home on a little private business of my own."