And for another I hadn't cared at all for his insults to me.

He listened sullenly to the facts of my eavesdropping and apologized.

When he found that I was disposed to be friendly he blurted out his justification for running away: an eccentric old invalid uncle who in all probability is not so evil as the boy claims.
"I had an odd feeling as we talked that he stands at the parting of the ways.

Chance will make or mar him.

And therefore I told him that if he insisted upon running away, he might as well tramp with me and think it over.
"I don't quite know yet why I said it.
"He reminds me of Kenny somehow, save that Kenny's more of a kid.