luckiest person in
the world. I did not blame Mr. Collingsby for not recognizing her, even
if he did know her, and I begrudged the quarter I had expended upon her
in tea and sandwiches.

CHAPTER V.

IN WHICH PHIL TAKES A ROOM AT MRS. WHIPPLETON'S BOARDING-HOUSE.

It was quite a shock to me to find that one whom I had supposed to be
honest was guilty of a deliberate attempt to defraud the railroad
company out of the sum of twelve dollars; who had resorted to gross
lies and mean deception to carry her point. Upon my honor and
conscience, I would rather have lost the twelve dollars I had advanced
than had the old woman turn out to be a swindler. She might be fussy,
she might be disagreeable, she might be a dozen things that are
uncomfortable and unpleasant, if she had only _meant_ to be true and
honest, and I could have respected her.

I was amazed; first, that she could be guilty of such a vile trick; and
second, that she had had the hardihood to acknowledge it, even to a boy
like me. My respect for the knowledge and penetration of the gentlemanly
conductor rose about ten degrees, and I was tempted to say to myself
that I would never again interfere in behalf of another "lone woman,"
especially if she was the mother of one as smart as her son Charles.

"You needn't tell that nasty conductor what I say," said Mrs.
Whippleton, as if conscious that she had been imprudent in revealing so
much to me.

"I don't think he needs to be told. It appears now that he understood
the case perfectly," I replied, disgusted with my seat-mate. "He said
you did not have any ticket, and that it was all a trick to evade
paying your fare."

"He didn't know that. He may say just the same thing six times, and be
mistaken five on 'em."

"Didn't you intend to pay your fare?"

"Perhaps I should, if they hadn't pussicuted me so in the beginning."

"But you didn't buy a ticket."

"No, I didn't. You are a green boy. What difference does it make to
this railroad company whether I paid my fare or not? They've got money
enough."

"But they wouldn't make much if people didn't pay."

"It don't make no difference if one don't pay now and then. You hain't
seen much of the world yet, my boy. When you have lived to be as old as
I am, you'll know more."

"I hope I shall not live so long as to be proud of being dishonest," I
replied, with considerable spirit.

"Dishonest? What do you mean by that? Do you pretend to say I'm
dishonest?