ased. I have already lost the money,
so his generosity will do me no good."

And Ralph told his mother the story, just as he had told it to old Bob
Sanderson, their boarder.

"That Paget boy is a bad egg, I am afraid," said Mrs. Nelson, with a grave
look on her face. "I am sorry you got into trouble with him."

"So am I, but it couldn't be helped. The bridge rules say that no person is
to cross without paying toll. Percy knows the rules, too."

"I understand he has caused the squire a lot of trouble, but for all that,
he is his father's pet."

"It's strange, if Percy gives him so much trouble."

"Well, the two are alone in the world, and that may make a difference. Have
we not been drawn closer together since your father died?"

"That is true, mother, but I try to do right, and--"

"You do what is right, Ralph. As much as I love you, I would not stand by
you were you to do a deliberate wrong."

"I don't believe Percy will do much," said Ralph, after a long pause. "I
was sticking up for the rules, and that is what I am put there to do."

After the supper dishes were cleared away, Mrs. Nelson put on her bonnet
and took a basket to do a little trading at one of the stores, leaving
Ralph to take care of the cottage while she was gone.

"I'll go along and carry the things for you, if you wish," said her son.

"I am going to get a few things, Ralph, which will not be heavy, and I wish
to see Mr. Dicks about the calico he sold me which is not as good as he
represented. You may stay home and read."

"I'll study my school books, mother. I want to master commercial arithmetic
if I can. Maybe one of these days I can become a bookkeeper in one of the
Eastport factories."

"I trust so, my son, that or something even better. I would not wish you to
remain a bridge tender all your life."

A moment later Mrs. Nelson was on her way to the village center. Ralph lit
the sitting-room lamp and got out his books and his slate. Soon he had
forgotten all about the exciting scenes of the day in an earnest endeavor
to do a complicated example in profit and loss.

He worked out the problem, and then tackled something harder still. Not
having anyone to guide him, he made numerous mistakes. But he kept on
without becoming disheartened and at last the second example was solved as
correctly as the first.

He was just about to begin a third, when his mother entered the cottage
almost breathlessly. From the look on her face it was pl