yourself."

"That is true, mother."

"I shall be afraid to have so much money in the house. If it were known,
we might be robbed."

"I will leave it with Mr. Paine until I get a chance to put it in a
savings bank. He has a safe in his office. At the same time I will carry
him some berries as a present. It won't be much, but I should like to do
it on account of his kindness about the boat. I will offer now to bear
the expense of its repair."

After washing his hands and adjusting his clothes a little, for Robert,
though no fop like Halbert, was not regardless of appearances,
especially as he thought Hester might see him, he set out for the
lawyer's office.

"Excuse my bringing in my berries," said Robert, as he entered the
office, "but I want to ask your acceptance of them."

Many persons, under the supposition that Robert was too poor to afford a
gift, would have declined it, or offered to pay for it, thinking they
were acting kindly and considerately. But Mr. Paine knew that Robert
would be mortified by such an offer, and he answered:

"Thank you, Robert; I will accept your gift with thanks on one
condition."

"What is it, Mr. Paine?" inquired our hero, a little puzzled.