“I ought to be at work,” said Herbert, “as I have my living to get.  I want you to take that ten dollars, doctor, as part payment of the debt I owe you.”

The doctor shook his head.

“I can’t do that, Herbert, not even to oblige you.  You were too proud to accept a favor from your uncle.  You will not be too proud, I hope, to accept one from me?”

“No, doctor; I am not too proud for that.  You are my friend, and my uncle cares nothing for me.”

When Herbert’s letter reached New York, his uncle felt a momentary shame, for he saw that his nephew had rightfully interpreted his own selfishness and lack of feeling, and he could not help involuntarily admiring the independent spirit which would not allow him to accept the proffered money, except as a loan.  But mingled with his shame was a feeling of relief, as he foresaw that Herbert’s pride would not suffer him to become a burden upon him in the future.  He hardly expected ever to see the ten dollars returned with interest; but even if he lost it, he felt that he should be getting off cheap.

CHAPTER III

A COLLISION

It was a week later when an incident befell Herbert which is worthy of mention, since it brought him into collision with a man who was destined to have some influence over his future life.

A neighboring farmer, for whom, during his mother’s life, he had occasionally gone on errands, drove up in front of the doctor’s house, and asked Herbert if he could take his horse and wagon and drive over to the mill village to get some corn ground.  Herbert was rather glad to accept this proposal, not only because he was to receive twenty-five cents for so doing, but also because he was fond of driving a horse.

He was only about a mile from the mill village, when he saw approaching him a man in a light open buggy.  Herbert knew every horse in Waverley, and every man, woman, and child, for that matter, and he perceived at once that the driver was a stranger.  To tell the truth, he was not very favorably impressed by his appearance.  The man was very dark, with black hair and an unshaven beard of three days’ growth, which did not set off his irregular and repulsive features.  His mouth, partly open, revealed several yellow tusks, stained with tobacco juice.  On his head he wore a broad-brimmed straw hat, rather the worse for wear.

It so happened that just at this point the middle of the road was much better than the sides, which sloped considerably, terminating in gullies which were partly full from the recent rains.  The road was narrow, being wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other, if each veered to the side, but not otherwise.

Herbert observed that the buggy, which was now rapidly approaching, was kept in the center of the road, and that the driver appeared to have no intention of turning out.

“What does he mean?” thought our hero.  “He cannot expect me to do the whole of the turning out.  I will turn out my half, and if he wants to get by, he must do the same.”