`` Your father took that book with him when he went to pay the note , '' she said . `` He intended to return it to Mr. Sinclair . I remember seeing the gleam of the red binding in his hand as he went out of the gate . He must have slipped the note into it and I suppose the book has never been opened since . Oh , Ernest -- do you think -- will Jacob Patterson -- '' `` I do n't know , Mother . I must see Mr. White about this . Do n't be too sanguine . This does n't prove that the note Jacob Patterson found was n't a genuine note also , you know -- that is , I do n't think it would serve as proof in law . We 'll have to leave it to his sense of justice . If he refuses to refund the money I 'm afraid we ca n't compel him to do so . '' But Jacob Patterson did not any longer refuse belief to Mrs. Patterson 's story of the blotted note . He was a harsh , miserly man , but he prided himself on his strict honesty ; he had been fairly well acquainted with his brother 's business transactions , and knew that George Duncan had given only one promissory note . `` I 'll admit , ma'am , since the receipted note has turned up , that your story about the blotted one must be true , '' he said surlily . `` I 'll pay your money back . Nobody can ever say Jacob Patterson cheated . I took what I believed to be my due . Since I 'm convinced it was n't I 'll hand every penny over . Though , mind you , you could n't make me do it by law . It 's my honesty , ma'am , it 's my honesty . '' Since Jacob Patterson was so well satisfied with the fibre of his honesty , neither Mrs. Duncan nor Ernest was disposed to quarrel with it .
Mr. White readily agreed to sell the old Duncan place back XXXXX them , and by spring they were settled again in their beloved little home .
If about by in into of over since that to