"It makes no difference to you where I got it," said our hero, returning the money to his pocket. "I shan't go to the almshouse till this I is all gone."
"He must have stolen it," muttered Halbert, looking after Robert with disappointment and chagrin. It was certainly very vexatious that, in spite of all his attempts to humble and ruin our hero, he seemed more prosperous than ever.
Mrs. Rushton was braiding straw when Robert entered with his berries.
"Couldn't you sell your berries, Robert?" she asked.
"The berrying season won't last much longer," said his mother, despondently.
"Don't borrow trouble, mother. I am sure we shall get along well."
"I just met Halbert Davis in the street."
"I am afraid you are too high-spirited, Robert. Did Halbert speak to you?"
"Oh, yes," said Robert, laughing. "He takes a great interest in my affairs. He predicts that we shall come to the poorhouse yet."
"Now, mother, don't be so desponding. We've got enough money to pay our expenses for more than a year, even if we both stop work."
"What can you mean, Robert?" said his mother, looking up in surprise. "You must be crazy."
"Does that look like going to the poorhouse?" asked Robert, drawing out his money.
Mrs. Rushton uttered an exclamation of surprise.
"No, mother; I thought you knew me too well for that. I see you are anxious to hear how I obtained it, so I'll tell you all about it."
He sat down, and in brief words told his mother the story of the train and its peril, how he had rescued it, and, lastly, of the generous gift which he had so unexpectedly received. The mother's heart was touched, and she forgot all her forebodings.
"My son, I am proud of you," she said, her eyes moist. "You have done a noble deed, and you deserve the reward. But what a risk you ran!"
"I know it, mother, but we won't think of that, now that it is over. How much, money do you think I have here?"
"Six hundred and thirty-five! So you see, mother, we needn't go to the poorhouse just yet. Now, how much better off should I have been if I had kept my place in the factory? It would have taken me more than two years to earn as much money as this. But that isn't all. I have been the means of saving a great many lives, for the train was sure to be thrown down the embankment. I shall remember that all my life."