I 'm glad I did n't go with the boy to see her . She 's an old woman now -- and Neil Jameson 's widow . I prefer to keep my old memories of her undisturbed -- little Lisbeth of the silvery-golden curls and the roguish blue eyes . Little Lisbeth of the old time ! I 'm glad to be able to have done you the small service of securing your home to you . It is my thanks to you for the friendship and affection you gave my lonely boyhood -- my tribute to the memory of my first sweetheart . '' He walked away with a smile , whose amusement presently softened to an expression that would have amazed his business cronies . Later on he hummed the air of an old love song as he climbed the steep spruce road to Tom 's . The Fillmore Elderberries `` I expected as much , '' said Timothy Robinson . His tone brought the blood into Ellis Duncan 's face . The lad opened his lips quickly , as if for an angry retort , but as quickly closed them again with a set firmness oddly like Timothy Robinson 's own . `` When I heard that lazy , worthless father of yours was dead , I expected you and your mother would be looking to me for help , '' Timothy Robinson went on harshly . `` But you 're mistaken if you think I 'll give it . You 've no claim on me , even if your father was my half-brother -- no claim at all . And I 'm not noted for charity . '' Timothy Robinson smiled grimly . It was very true that he was far from being noted for charity . His neighbours called him `` close '' and `` near . '' Some even went so far as to call him `` a miserly skinflint . '' But this was not true .
It was , however , undeniable that Timothy XXXXX kept a tight clutch on his purse-strings , and although he sometimes gave liberally enough to any cause which really appealed to him , such causes were few and far between .
Duncan Elderberries Jameson Lisbeth Robinson Tom first lips skinflint sweetheart