“You could have got a place on a farm, and in time perhaps might have bought a little land for yourself.”

Herbert smiled.

“I did get a place on a farm,” he said; “but I did not like it.”

“What are you doing in the city?  Have you got a place?”

“Not at present.”

“So I supposed,” said his uncle, frowning.  “I told you the city was overcrowded.  You should not have come here.  I suppose you relied on me to help you to something.  But I have my own family to take care of, and my first duty is to them, as you must be aware.”

“I don’t think you quite understand my object in calling,” said Herbert, quietly.  “I have not come for assistance of any kind.”

“Indeed!” returned Mr. Stanton, appearing to be puzzled.

“You sent me ten dollars in a letter to Dr. Kent some months since?”

“Yes.  I felt that it was best for you to depend on yourself, and that more would only encourage you to idleness.”

“I have come to thank you for the loan,” said Herbert, emphasizing the last word, “and to return the money.”

“What!” exclaimed Mr. Stanton, now thoroughly amazed.

Herbert repeated his former words.

“But I don’t understand this.  You are out of a place; yet you do not need this money.”

“No, I do not need it.”

This was certainly astonishing, and Mr. Stanton gazed at his nephew as if he did not know what to make of it.

“What are your plans?” he asked.  “What are you going to do?”

“I sail for Europe next week,” said Herbert, enjoying his uncle’s surprise.

“Sail for Europe!” ejaculated Mr. Stanton, scarcely believing his ears.

“Yes, I am to go to school there, and shall probably remain three or four years.”

“You are trifling with me,” said his uncle, irritably.  “How can you go to Europe without money?”

Herbert felt that the time had come for an explanation.

“A friend,” he said, “kindly undertakes to pay all my expenses.  I go with him.”

“Who is your friend?”

“Mr. Ralph Pendleton.  I believe you know him.”

“Ralph Pendleton!” repeated Mr. Stanton, in renewed surprise.  “How did you become acquainted with him?”

“The farmer with whom I was placed in Ohio ill-treated me.  Ralph lived near by, and helped me to run away.”

Mr. Stanton made no comment.  Indeed, his surprise was such that he knew not what to say.  His friendless and penniless nephew, as he had regarded him, was about to share advantages which he would gladly have obtained for his own son.  When, that evening, at home, he told his family of Herbert’s good fortune, Tom was filled with bitter envy.  If it had been any other boy he would have cared less, but for “that begger Herbert” to go to Europe in charge of a man of wealth was very mortifying to his pride.

Mr. Stanton made a faint protest against receiving the ten dollars tendered by his nephew, but Herbert was determined to repay it.  He placed it on the desk and eventually Mr. Stanton placed it in his pocketbook.