“No,” said Rodolphus.
“How much have you got now?” said his father.
“A quarter of a dollar,” said the boy.
“Come down, then, and give it to me,” said his father. “Come down this minute.”
“No,” said Rodolphus, “I want it to buy my rabbit.”
Mr. Linn paused a moment, looking perplexed, as if uncertain what to do.
At length he said,
“Yes, bring back the money, Rolfy, that's a good boy, and to-morrow I'll go and buy you a rabbit myself.”
Rodolphus knew that he could not trust to such a promise, and so he would not come. Mr. Linn seemed more perplexed than ever. He began to be seriously angry with the boy, and he resolved, that as soon as he could catch him, he would punish him severely: but he saw that it was useless to attempt to pursue him.
Rodolphus looked toward the house, and there he saw his mother standing at the kitchen-door, laughing. He held up the quarter of a dollar toward her, between his thumb and finger, and laughed too.