“I’ve had ma reward, sir, i’ the blessin’ o’ the lad’s company.”

“Yes, that’s all very true, but a man must not rob himself; it’s not right.  You are getting along in years; you should have a little something to lay by for old age.  We are sure to establish Ralph’s identity, and to recover his interest in his father’s estate.  I know that the boy would be delighted to have you paid out of the funds that would come into our hands, and I am very certain that Mrs. Burnham would be proud to have your services acknowledged in that way.  The basis of compensation would not be so much the time, labor, and money actually expended by you, as it would be the value of the property rescued and cared for.  That would figure into a very nice sum.  I think you had better let me manage it, and secure for you something to lay by for a rainy day, or for old age that is sure to fall on you.  What do you say?”

But Bachelor Billy had risen to his feet, excited, and in earnest.

“I’m a poor mon, Muster Sharpman,” he said, “an’ money’s worth a deal to me, but I could na tak’ it for a-doin’ what I ha’ for Ralph.”

“Why, I am sure your services have been of infinite value, both to the boy and to his mother.”

“Mayhap! mayhap! that’s no’ for me to say.  But I canna do it.  I could na look ony mon i’ the eye wi’ a cent o’ the lad’s money i’ ma purse.  It’d seem as though I’d been a-doin’ for ‘im a’ these years wi’ a purpose to get it back in siller some day, an’ I never did; I never thocht o’ it, sir.  The chil’s been as free an’ welcome as the sunshine wi’ me.  The bit money I ha’ spent, the bit care I ha’ had wi’ ’im, why that was paid back wi’ dooble interest the first week he could sit oop i’ the bed an’ talk.  It’s a blessin’ to hear the lad talk to ye.  Na, na! do what ye can for Ralph.  Spare naught to get his rightfu’ dues; but me, there’s not a penny comin’ to me.  I’ve had ma pay, an’ that lang sin’, lang sin’, do ye mind.”

The lawyer waved his hand, as much as to say:  “Very well, you’re a fool, but it’s not my fault.  I have placed the opportunity within your reach; if you do not choose to grasp it, you’re the loser, not I.”  But Sharpman felt that he was the loser, nevertheless.

He knew that his shrewd scheme to use this honest man as a tool for the furtherance of his own ends had fallen through, and that the modest sum which he had expected to gain for himself in this way would never be his.

He was not quite so cordial when Ralph returned from his dinner; and, after a few words of admonition to the boy, he dismissed the pair, and set himself diligently to the task of preparing a new scheme to take the place of the one that had just vanished.

CHAPTER X.

AT THE BAR OF THE COURT.