Keeping a secret was one thing; seeing the only father you had look like that, was another.

I held out the money.
"There's one piece old Even So didn't get, anyway," I said.

"Found it on the floor of the Station, where it was stuck to the can.

And I thought Leon must be hiding for fear he'd be whipped for telling, but I've hunted where we usually hide, and promised him everything under the sun if he'd come out; but he didn't, so I guess that traveller man must have used the gun to make him go along." Father sat and stared at me.

He never offered to touch the money, not even when I held it against his hand.