CHAPTER XI.
Innocence and ignorance can be as easily hood-winked by kindness as by contumely.
This little Jerome, who had leaped, under the spur of necessity, to an independence of understanding beyond his years, allowed himself to be quite misled by the Squire as to his attitude in the matter of the mortgage.

In spite of the momentary light reflected from the doctor's shrewder intelligence which had flashed upon his scheme, the Squire was able to delude him with a renewed belief in it, after he had informed him of the transfer of the mortgage-deed, which took place the next morning.
"I decided to buy that wood-lot of your father's, as your mother was willing," said the Squire; "and as I had not the money in hand to pay down, I gave my note to your mother for it, as you proposed the doctor should do, and allowed six per cent.

interest." Jerome looked at him in a bewildered way.
"Well, what is the matter?
Aren't you as willing to take my note as the doctor's ?" asked the Squire.
"Is it fair ?" asked Jerome, hesitatingly.
"Fair to you ?" "No; to you." "Of course it is fair enough to me.

Why not ?" "The doctor didn't think it was," said the boy, getting more and more bewildered.
"Why didn't he ?" "I don't--know--" faltered Jerome; and he did not, for the glimmer of light which he had got from the doctor's worldly wisdom had quite failed him.

He had seen quite clearly that it was not fair, but now he could not.
"Oh, well, I dare say it is fairer for me than for him," said the Squire, easily.