“Oh, shucks! There’s no sense in being so touchy!”
“I’m not touchy, Arn. I—I guess I can’t just explain how I feel about it. If—if there was real need of the money——”
“All right, Toby,” said Mr. Deering, coming to his rescue. “You know best, perhaps. There’s no doubt that money you earn yourself goes a lot farther than money that’s come by easily. But just remember that if you ever need it it’s here waiting for you, and it’s yours as a loan or a gift as you please. That will do, Arnold. Toby is quite right about it. We won’t say any more.” Mr. Deering, who had arisen from his armchair a minute before, stepped forward and shook Toby’s hand again. “I’ve got some letters to write, and so I’ll say good-night to you. And good luck, too, Toby.”
Later, on the landing, Toby asked: “Did you find out how your father knew about it, Arn?”
“Yes, the lighthouse keeper saw it and he told the man who brings us fish. And he told the cook and——”
“Well, that lets Frank out, doesn’t it? I’m sort of glad. He—he was pretty decent the other day, Frank was. About owning up that I beat him, you know. And say, Arn, I guess he can swim as fast as he said. I know I never had to work so hard before in my life!”