“Do you want me to go any further with you?”
“No; you can go back now if you want to. Don’t forget my directions.”
“I will remember them,” said Tony quietly.
The two parted company, and Tony walked slowly back to the farm. He was troubled and perplexed. He was in a dilemma, and how to get out of it he did not know.
It was not the first time that he thought over his relations to Rudolph.
As far back as he could remember he had been under the care of this man. Sometimes the latter had been away for months, leaving him in the charge of a woman whose appearance indicated that she also was of gypsy descent. He had experienced hunger, cold, neglect, but had lived
through them all, tolerably contented. Now, however, he saw that Rudolph intended to make a criminal of him, and he was disposed to rebel. That his guardian was himself a thief, he had reason to know. He suspected that some of his periodical absences were spent inside prison walls. Would he be content to follow his example?
Tony answered unhesitatingly, “No.” Whatever the consequences might be, he would make a stand there. He had reason to fear violence, but that was better than arrest and imprisonment. If matters came to the worst, he would run away.
When he had come to a decision he felt better. He returned to the farm, and found Abner just leaving the yard with a hoe in his hand.
Where are you going?” he asked.