Sparling. Believe me I do appreciate your kindness,
but I mustn't take the check. I couldn't take the check."
"Why not?"
"Because I haven't earned it."
"Haven't earned it? He hasn't earned it!"
"No, sir."
The showman threw his hands above his head in a hopeless sort of
a way.
"I should not feel that I was doing right. I want to be
independent, Mr. Sparling. I have plenty of money. I have
not spent more than half of what I earned last summer.
This season I hope to lay by a whole lot, so that I shall be
quite independent."
"And so you shall, so you shall, my boy," Sparling exclaimed,
rising and smiting Phil good naturedly with the flat of his hand.
Instead of tearing up the check, however, Mr. Sparling put it in
an envelope which he directed and stamped, then thrust in his
coat pocket.
"I--I hope you understand--hope you do not feel offended,"
said Phil hesitatingly. "I should not like to have you
misunderstand me."
"Not a bit of it, my lad. I can't say that I have any higher
opinion of you because of your decision, but--"
Phil glanced up quickly.
"I already have as high an opinion of you as it is possible for
me to have for any human being, and--"
"Thank you.
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