I 'm not taking you to prison . '' Wilbur turned and went silently to the kitchen . Miss Cynthia thought she heard a sob . She went with a firm step into the little bedroom off the hall and took a purse out of a drawer . `` I s ` pose I ought , '' she said doubtfully . `` I do n't s ` pose he has a cent . I daresay he 'll lose or waste it . '' She counted out seventy-five cents carefully . When she came out , Wilbur was at the door . She put the money awkwardly into his hand . `` There , see that you do n't spend it on any foolishness . '' * * * * * Miss Cynthia 's Action made a good deal of talk in Wilmot . The women , headed by Mrs. John Joe -- who said behind Cynthia 's back what she did not dare say to her face -- condemned her . The men laughed and said that Cynthia was a shrewd one ; there was no getting round her . Miss Cynthia herself was far from easy . She could not forget Wilbur 's wistful eyes , and she had heard that Robins was a hard master . A week after the boy had gone she saw him one day at the store . He was lifting heavy bags from a cart . The work was beyond his strength , and he was flushed and panting . Miss Cynthia 's conscience gave her a hard stab .
She bought a roll of peppermints and XXXXX them over to him .
'm came gone headed lose s said spend took turned