ntleman I have the good fortune to work for."

"Don't you be too sure! If you think he wouldn't mind a boy, I'll refer
him to pa and ma. They'll give you a good setting out."

"I don't doubt it," said Phil indifferently, and turned to go away.

He was called back by Alonzo, who had not quite satisfied his curiosity.

"Say, are you boarding with that woman who came to see ma the same day
you were at the house?" he asked.

"No; I have left her."

Alonzo looked well pleased. He knew that his mother felt rather uneasy
at the two being together, dreading lest they should make a concerted
attempt to ingratiate themselves with her rich uncle.

"Ma says she behaved very badly," Alonzo could not help adding.

"Mrs. Forbush is an excellent Lady," said Phil warmly, for he could not
hear one of his friends spoken against.

"Lady! She's as poor as poverty," sneered Alonzo.

"She is none the worse for that."

"Uncle Oliver can't bear her!"

"Indeed!" said Phil; pausing to see what else Alonzo would say.

"Ma says she disgraced herself, and all her relations gave her up. When
you see her tell her she had better not come sneaking round the house
again."

"If you will write a letter to that effect, I will see that she gets
it," said Phil. "That letter won't miscarry."

"I don't care to take any notice of her," said Alonzo loftily.

"You are very kind to have wasted so much notice upon me," said Phil,
amused.

Alonzo did not see fit to answer this, but walked away with his head in
the air. He was, however, not quite easy in mind.

"How in the world," he asked himself, "could that boy have found out
that Uncle Oliver gave me a letter to post? If he should learn that I
opened it and took the money, there'd be a big fuss. I guess I'd
better not meet him again. If I see him any day I'll go in a different
direction. He's so artful he may get me into trouble."

It is needless to say that neither Mr. or Mrs. Pitkin knew of Alonzo's
tampering with the letter. Much as they would have been opposed to
Phil's receiving such a letter, they would have been too wise to
sanction such a bold step.

"Well," said Mr. Carter, when Phil returned, "did you see Rebecca--Mrs.
Forbush?"

"Yes, sir, and handed her the money. She was overjoyed; not so much at
receiving so generous a sum as at learning that you were reconciled to
her."

"Poor girl!" said the old man, forgetting that she was now a worn woman.
"I am afraid that she must ha