“I would hardly advise it.  You will need the money.  Probably you do not know how near penniless you are.”

“No, sir; I don’t know.”

“Your guardian, as you are aware, sent me a check for one hundred and twenty five dollars.  I have figured up how much of this sum is due to me, and I find it to be one hundred and thirteen dollars and thirty seven cents.”

“Yes, sir,” said Rodney indifferently.

“This leaves for you only eleven dollars and sixty three cents.  You follow me, do you not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have you any money saved up from your allowance?”

“A few dollars only, sir.”

“Ahem! that is a pity.  You will need all you can raise.  But of course you did not anticipate what has occurred?”

“No, sir.”

“I will throw off the thirty seven cents,” said the principal magnanimously, “and give you back twelve dollars.”

“I would rather pay you the whole amount of your bill,” said Rodney.

“Ahem!  Well perhaps that would be more business-like.  So you don’t wish to part with any of the jewelry, Ropes?”

“No, sir.”

“I thought, perhaps, by way of helping you, I would take the earrings, and perhaps the necklace, off your hands and present them to Mrs. Sampson.”

Rodney shuddered with aversion at the idea of these precious articles, which had once belonged to his mother, being transferred to the stout and coarse featured consort of the principal.

“I think I would rather keep them,” he replied.

“Oh well, just as you please,” said Dr. Sampson with a shade of disappointment for he had no idea of paying more than half what the articles were worth.  “If the time comes when you wish to dispose of them let me know.”

Rodney nodded, but did not answer in words.

“Of course, Ropes,” went on the doctor in a perfunctory way, “I am very sorry for you.  I shall miss you, and, if I could afford it, I would tell you to stay without charge.  But I am a poor man.”

“Yes,” said Rodney hastily, “I understand.  I thank you for your words but would not under any circumstances accept such a favor at your hands.”

“I am afraid you are proud, Ropes.  Pride is—­ahem—­a wrong feeling.”

“Perhaps so, Dr. Sampson, but I wish to earn my own living without being indebted to any one.”

“Perhaps you are right, Ropes.  I dare say I should feel so myself.  When do you propose leaving us?”

“Some time tomorrow, sir.”

“I shall feel sad to have you go.  You have been here so long that you seem to me like a son.  But we must submit to the dispensations of Providence—­” and Dr. Sampson blew a vigorous blast upon his red silk handkerchief.  “I will give you the balance due in the morning.”

“Very well, sir.”

Rodney was glad to be left alone.  He had no faith in Dr. Sampson’s sympathy.  The doctor had the reputation of being worth from thirty to forty thousand dollars, and his assumption of being a poor man Rodney knew to be a sham.