“That is what I mean to do just as soon as I can.”

“You will do, Bobby.”

The young merchant spent nearly the whole forenoon at the squire’s, and declined an invitation to dinner only on the plea that his mother would wait for him.

CHAPTER XIII.

IN WHICH BOBBY DECLINES A COPARTNERSHIP AND VISITS B——­ AGAIN.

After dinner Bobby performed his Saturday afternoon chores as usual.  He split wood enough to last for a week, so that his mother might not miss him too much, and then, feeling a desire to visit his favorite resorts in the vicinity, he concluded to go a fishing.  The day was favorable, the sky being overcast and the wind very light.  After digging a little box of worms in the garden back of the house, he shouldered his fish pole; and certainly no one would have suspected that he was a distinguished travelling merchant.  He was fond of fishing, and it is a remarkable coincidence that Daniel Webster, and many other famous men, have manifested a decided passion for this exciting sport.  No doubt a fondness for angling is a peculiarity of genius; and if being an expert fisherman makes a great man, then our hero was a great man.

He had scarcely seated himself on his favorite rock, and dropped his line into the water, before he saw Tom Spicer approaching the spot.  The bully had never been a welcome companion.  There was no sympathy between them.  They could never agree, for their views, opinions, and tastes were always conflicting.

Bobby had not seen Tom since he left him to crawl out of the ditch on the preceding week, and he had good reason to believe that he should not be regarded with much favor.  Tom was malicious and revengeful, and our hero was satisfied that the blow which had prostrated him in the ditch would not be forgotten till it had been atoned for.  He was prepared, therefore, for any disagreeable scene which might occur.

There was another circumstance also which rendered the bully’s presence decidedly unpleasant at this time—­an event that had occurred during his absence, the particulars of which he had received from his mother.

Tom’s father, who was a poor man, and addicted to intemperance, had lost ten dollars.  He had brought it home, and, as he affirmed, placed it in one of the bureau drawers.  The next day it could not be found.

Spicer, for some reason, was satisfied that Tom had taken it; but the boy stoutly and persistently denied it.  No money was found upon him, however, and it did not appear that he had spent any at the stores in Riverdale Centre.