CHAPTER XVII WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED
"I hear there is a letter for me, Mr. Brown," said Ben to the postmaster, who was folding the evening papers, of which he received a parcel from the city by the afternoon train.
"Yes, Ben," answered the postmaster, smiling. "It appears to be from a lady in New York. You must have improved your time during your recent visit to the city."
"I made the acquaintance of one lady older than my mother," answered Ben. "I didn't flirt with her any."
"At any rate, I should judge that she became interested in you or she wouldn't write."
"I hope she did, for she is very wealthy," returned Ben.
The letter was placed in his hands, and he quickly tore it open.
Something dropped from it.
"What is that?" asked the postmaster.
Ben stooped and picked it up, and, to his surprise, discovered that it was a ten-dollar bill.
"That's a correspondent worth having," said Mr. Brown jocosely.
"Can't you give me a letter of introduction?"
Ben didn't answer, for he was by this time deep the letter. We will look over his shoulder and read it with him. It ran thus:
"No. – Madison Avenue,
New York, October 5.
"My Dear Young Friend:
"Will you come to New York and call upon me? I have a very pleasant remembrance of you and the service you did me recently, and think I can employ you in other ways, to our mutual advantage. I am willing to pay you a higher salary than you are receiving in your country home, besides providing you with a home in my own house. I inclose ten dollars for expenses. Yours, with best wishes,
"Helen Hamilton"
Ben's heart beat with joyful excitement as he read this letter. It could not have come at a better time, for, as we know, he was out of employment, and, of course, earning nothing.
"Well, Ben," said the postmaster, whose curiosity was excited, is it good news?"
"I should say it was," said Ben emphatically. "I am offered a good situation in New York."
"You don't say so! How much are offered?"
"I am to get more than Mr. Crawford paid me and board in a fine house besides—a brownstone house on Madison Avenue."
"Well, I declare! You are in luck," ejaculated Mr. Brown. "What are you to do?"
"That's more than I know. Here is the letter, if you like to read it."
"It reads well. She must be a generous lady. But what will your mother say?"
"That's what I want to know," said Ben, looking suddenly sober. "I hate to leave her, but it is for my good."
"Mothers are self-sacrificing when the interests of their children are concerned."
"I know that," said Ben promptly; "and I've got one of the best mothers going."
"So you have. Every one likes and respects Mrs. Barclay."
Any boy, who is worth anything, likes to hear his mother praised, and Ben liked Mr. Brown better for this tribute to the one whom he loved best on earth. He was not slow in making his way home. He went at once to the kitchen, where his mother was engaged in mixing bread.
"What's the matter, Ben? You look excited," said Mrs. Barkley.
"So I am, mother. I am offered a position."
"Not in the store?"
"No; it is in New York."
"In New York!" repeated his mother, in a troubled voice. "It would cost you all you could make to pay your board in some cheap boarding house. If it were really going to be for your own good, I might consent to part with you, but—"
"Read that letter, mother," said Ben. "You will see that I shall have an elegant home and a salary besides. It is a chance in a thousand."
Mrs. Barclay read the letter carefully.
"Can I go, mother?" Ben asked anxiously.
"It will be a sacrifice for me to part with you," returned his mother slowly; "but I agree with you that it is a rare chance, and I should be doing wrong to stand in the way of your good fortune. Mrs. Hamilton must have formed a very good opinion of you."
"She may be disappointed in me," said Ben modestly.
"I don't think she will," said Mrs. Barclay, with a proud and affectionate glance at her boy. "You have always been a good son, and that is the best of recommendations."
"I am afraid you are too partial, mother. I shall hate to leave you alone."
"I can bear loneliness if I know you are prospering, Ben."
"And it will only be for a time, mother. When I am a young man and earning a good income, I shall want you to come and live with me."
"All in good time, Ben. How soon do you want to go?"
"I think it better to lose no time, mother. You know I have no work to keep me in Pentonville."
"But it will take two or three days to get your clothes ready."
"You can send them to me by express. I shall send you the address."
Mrs. Barclay was a fond mother, but she was also a sensible woman. She felt that Ben was right, and, though it seemed very sudden, she gave him her permission to start the next morning. Had she objected strenuously, Ben would have given up his plan, much as he desired it, for he felt that his mother had the strongest claims upon him, and he would not have been willing to run counter to her wishes.
"Where are you going, Ben?" asked his mother, as Ben put on his hat and moved toward the door.
"I thought I would like to call on Rose Gardiner to say good-by," answered Ben.
"Quite right, my son. Rose is a good friend of yours, and an excellent girl"
"I say ditto to that, mother," Ben answered warmly.
I am not going to represent Ben as being in love—he was too young for that—but, like many boys of his age, he felt a special attraction in the society of one young girl. His good taste was certainly not at fault in his choice of Rose Gardiner, who, far from being frivolous and fashionable, was a girl of sterling traits, who was not above making herself useful in the household of which she formed a part.
On his way to the home of Rose Gardiner, Ben met Tom Davenport.
"How are you getting along?" asked Tom, not out of interest, but curiosity.
"Very well, thank you."
"Have you got through helping the farmer?"
"Yes."
"It was a very long job. Have you thought better of coming to saw wood for father?"
"No; I have thought worse of it," answered Ben, smiling.
"You are too proud. Poor and proud don't agree."
"Not at all. I would have had no objection to the work. It was the pay I didn't like."
"You can't earn more than forty cents a day at anything else."
"You are mistaken. I am going to New York to-morrow to take a place, where I get board and considerable more money besides."
"Is that true?" asked Tom, looking as if he had lost his best friend.
"Quite so. The party inclosed ten dollars to pay my expenses up to the city."
"He must be a fool."
"Thank you. It happens to be a lady."
"What are you to do?"
"I don't know yet. I am sure I shall be well paid. I must ask you to excuse me now, as I am going to call on Rose Gardiner to bid her good-by."
"I dare say she would excuse you," said Tom, with a sneer.
"Perhaps so; but I wouldn't like to go without saying good-by."
"At any rate, he will be out of my way," thought Tom, "and I can monopolize Rose. I'm glad he's going."
He bade Ben an unusually civil good-night at this thought occurred to him.
CHAPTER XVIII FAREWELL TO PENTONVILLE
"I have come to say good-by, Rose," said Ben, as the young lady made her appearance.
"Good-by!" repeated Rose, in surprise. "Why, where are you going?"
"To New York."
"But you are coming back again?"
"I hope so, but only for a visit now and then. I am offered a position in the city."
"Isn't that rather sudden?" said Rose, after a pause.
Ben explained how he came to be offered employment.
"I am to receive higher pay than I did here, and a home besides," he added, in a tone of satisfaction. "Don't you think I am lucky?"
"Yes, Ben, and I rejoice in your good fortune; but I shall miss you so much," said Rose frankly.
"I am glad of that," returned Ben. "I hoped you would miss me a little. You'll go and see mother now and then, won't you? She will feel very lonely."
"You may be sure I will. It is a pity you have to go away. A great many will be sorry."
"I know someone who won't."
"Who is that?"
"Tom Davenport."
Rose smiled. She had a little idea why Tom would not regret Ben's absence.
"Tom could be spared, as well as not," she said.
"He is a strong admirer of yours, I believe," said Ben mischievously.
"I don't admire him," retorted Rose, with a little toss of her head.
Ben heard this with satisfaction, for though he was too young to be a lover, he did have a strong feeling of attraction toward Rose, and would have been sorry to have Tom step into his place.
As Ben was preparing to go, Rose said, "Wait a minute, Ben."
She left the room and went upstairs, but returned almost immediately, with a small knit purse.
"Won't you accept this, Ben?" she said. "I just finished it yesterday. It will remind you of me when you are away."
"Thank you, Rose. I shall need nothing to keep you in my remembrance, but I will value it for your sake."
"I hope you will be fortunate and fill it very soon, Ben."
So the two parted on the most friendly terms, and the next day Ben started for New York in the highest of spirits.
After purchasing his ticket, he gave place to Squire Davenport, who also called for a ticket to New York. Now, it so happened that the squire had not seen Tom since the interview of the latter with our hero, and was in ignorance of his good luck.
"Are you going to New York, Benjamin?" he asked, in surprise.
"Yes, sir."
"Isn't it rather extravagant for one in your circumstances?"
"Yes, sir; if I had no object in view."
"Have you any business in the city?"
"Yes, sir; I am going to take a place."
Squire Davenport was still more surprised, and asked particulars.
These Ben readily gave, for he was quite elated by his good fortune.
"Oh, that's it, is it?" said the squire contemptuously. "I thought you might have secured a position in some business house. This lady probably wants you to answer the doorbell and clean the knives, or something of that sort."
"I am sure she does not," said Ben, indignant and mortified.
"You'll find I am right," said the squire confidently. "Young man, I can't congratulate you on your prospects. You would have done as well to stay in Pentonville and work on my woodpile."
"Whatever work I may do in New York, I shall be a good deal better paid for than here," retorted Ben.
Squire Davenport shrugged his shoulders, and began to read the morning paper. To do him justice, he only said what he thought when he predicted to Ben that he would be called upon to do menial work.
"The boy won't be in so good spirits a week hence," he thought. "However, that is not my affair. There is no doubt that I shall get possession of his mother's house when the three months are up, and I don't at all care where he and his mother go. If they leave Pentonville I shall be very well satisfied. I have no satisfaction in meeting either of them," and the squire frowned, as if some unpleasant thought had crossed his mind.
Nothing of note passed during the remainder of the journey. Ben arrived in New York, and at once took a conveyance uptown, and due time found himself, carpet-bag in hand, on the front steps of Mrs. Hamilton's house.
He rang the bell, and the door was opened by a servant.
"She's out shopping," answered the girl, looking inquisitively at Ben's carpet-bag. "Will you leave a message for her?"
"I believe I am expected," said Ben, feeling a little awkward. "My name is Benjamin Barclay."
"Mrs. Hamilton didn't say anything about expecting any boy," returned the servant. "You can come in, if you like, and I'll call Mrs. Hill."
"I suppose that is the housekeeper," thought Ben.
"Very well," he answered. "I believe I will come in, as Mrs. Hamilton wrote me to come."
Ben left his bag in the front hall, and with his hat in his hand followed the servant into the handsomely-furnished drawing room.
"I wish Mrs. Hamilton had been here," he said to himself. "The girl seems to look at me suspiciously. I hope the housekeeper knows about my coming."
Ben sat down in an easy-chair beside a marble-topped center table, and waited for fifteen minutes before anyone appeared. He beguiled the time by looking over a handsomely illustrated book of views, but presently the door was pushed open and he looked up.
The newcomer was a spare, pale-faced woman, with a querulous expression, who stared coldly at our hero. It was clear that she was not glad to see him. "What can I do for you, young man?" she asked in a repellent tone.
"What a disagreeable-looking woman!" thought Ben. "I am sure we shall never be friends."
"Is Mrs. Hamilton expected in soon?" he asked.
"I really cannot say. She does not report to me how long she expects to be gone."
"Didn't she speak to you about expecting me?" asked Ben, feeling decidedly uncomfortable.
"Not a word!" was the reply.
"She wrote to me to come here, but perhaps she did not expect me so soon."
"If you have come here to collect a bill, or with any business errand, I can attend to you. I am Mrs. Hamilton's cousin."
"Thank you; it will be necessary for me to see Mrs. Hamilton."
"Then you may as well call in the afternoon, or some other day."
"That's pretty cool!" thought Ben. "That woman wants to get me out of the house, but I propose to 'hold the fort' till Mrs. Hamilton arrives."
"I thought you might know that I am going to stay here," said Ben.
"What!" exclaimed Mrs. Hill, in genuine surprise.
"Mrs. Hamilton has offered me a position, though I do not know what the duties are to be, and am going to make my home here."
"Really this is too much!" said the pale-faced lady sternly. "Here, Conrad!" she called, going to the door.
A third party made his appearance on the scene, a boy who looked so much like Mrs. Hill that it was clear she was his mother. He was two inches taller than Ben, but looked pale and flabby.
"What's wanted, ma?" he said, staring at Ben.
"This young man has made a strange mistake. He says Mrs. Hamilton has sent for him and that he is going to live here.
"He's got cheek," exclaimed Conrad, continuing to stare at Ben.
"Tell him he'd better go!"
"You'd better go!" said the boy, like a parrot.
"Thank you," returned Ben, provoked, "but I mean to stay."
"Go and call a policeman, Conrad," said Mrs. Hill. "We'll see what he'll have to say then."
CHAPTER XIX A COOL RECEPTION
"This isn't quite the reception I expected," thought Ben. He was provoked with the disagreeable woman who persisted in regarding and treating him as an intruder, but he was not nervous or alarmed. He knew that things would come right, and that Mrs. Hill and her promising son would see their mistake. He had half a mind to let Conrad call a policeman, and then turn the tables upon his foes. But, he knew that this would be disagreeable to Mrs. Hamilton, whose feelings he was bound to consider.
"Before you call a policeman," he said quietly, "it may be well for you to read this letter."
As he spoke handed Mrs. Hill the letter he had received from Mrs.
Hamilton.
Mrs. Hill took the letter suspiciously, and glared over it. As she read, a spot of red glowed in each pallid check, and she bit her lips in annoyance.
"I don't understand it," she said slowly.
Ben did not feel called upon to explain what was perfectly intelligible. He saw that Mrs. Hill didn't want to understand it.
"What is it, ma?" asked Conrad, his curiosity aroused.
"You can read it for yourself, Conrad," returned his mother.
"Is he coming to live here?" ejaculated Conrad, astonished, indicating Ben with a jerk of his finger.
"If this letter is genuine," said Mrs. Hill, with at significant emphasis on the last word.
"If it is not, Mrs. Hamilton will be sure to tell you so," said Ben, provoked.
"Come out, Conrad; I want to speak to you," said his mother.
Without ceremony, they left Ben in the parlor alone, and withdrew to another part of the house, where they held a conference.
"What does it all mean, ma?" asked Conrad.
"It means that your prospects are threatened, my poor boy. Cousin Hamilton, who is very eccentric, has taken a fancy to this boy, and she is going to confer favors upon him at your expense. It is too bad!"
"I'd like to break his head!" said Conrad, scowling.
"It won't do, Conrad, to fight him openly. We must do what we can in an underhand way to undermine him with Cousin Hamilton. She ought to make you her heir, as she has no children of her own."
"I don't think she likes me," said the boy. "She only gives me two dollars a week allowance, and she scolded me the other day because she met me in the hall smoking a cigarette."
"Be sure not to offend her, Conrad. A great deal depends on it. Two dollars ought to answer for the present. When you are a young man, you may be in very different circumstances."
"I don't know about that," grumbled Conrad. "I may get two dollars a week then, but what's that?"
"You may be a wealthy man!" said his mother impressively. "Cousin Hamilton is not so healthy as she looks. I have a suspicion that her heart is affected. She might die suddenly."
"Do you really think so?" said Conrad eagerly.
"I think so. What you must try to do is to stand well with her, and get her to make her will in your favor. I will attend to that, if you will do as I tell you."
"She may make this boy her heir," said Conrad discontentedly. "Then where would I be?"
"She won't do it, if I can help it," said Mrs. Hill with an emphatic nod. "I will manage to make trouble between them. You will always be my first interest, my dear boy."
She made a motion to kiss her dear boy, but Conrad, who was by no means of an affectionate disposition, moved his head suddenly, with an impatient exclamation, "Oh, bother!"
A pained look came over the mother's face, for she loved her son, unattractive and disagreeable as he was, with a love the greater because she loved no one else in the world. Mother and son were selfish alike, but the son the more so, for he had not a spark of love for any human being.
"There's the bell!" said Mrs. Hill suddenly. "I do believe Cousin Hamilton has come. Now we shall find out whether this boy's story is true."
"Let's go downstairs, ma! I hope it's all a mistake and she'll send me for a policeman."
"I am afraid the boy's story is correct. But his day will be short."
When they reached the hall, Mrs. Hamilton had already been admitted to the house.
"There's a boy in the drawing room, Mrs. Hamilton," said Mrs. Hill, "who says he is to stay here—that you sent for him."
"Has he come already?" returned Mrs. Hamilton. "I am glad of it."
"Then you did send for him?"
"Of course. Didn't I mention it to you? I hardly expected he would come so soon."
She opened the door of the drawing room, and approached Ben, with extended hand and a pleasant smile.
"Welcome to New York, Ben," she said. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting long?"
"Not very long," answered Ben, shaking her hand.
"This is my cousin Mrs. Hill, who relieves me of part of my housekeeping care," continued Mrs. Hamilton, "and this is her son, Conrad. Conrad, this is a companion for you, Benjamin Barclay, who will be a new member of our small family."
"I hope you are well, Conrad," said Ben, with a smile, to the boy who but a short time before was going for a policeman to put him under arrest.
"I'm all right," said Conrad ungraciously.
"Really, Cousin Hamilton, this is a surprise" said Mrs. Hill. "You are quite kind to provide Conrad with a companion, but I don't think he felt the need of any, except his mother—and you."
Mrs. Hamilton laughed. She saw that neither Mrs. Hill nor Conrad was glad to see Ben, and this was only what she expected, and, indeed, this was the chief reason why she had omitted to mention Ben's expected arrival.
"You give me too much credit," she said, "if you think I invited this young gentleman here solely as a companion to Conrad. I shall have some writing and accounts for him to attend to."
"I am sure Conrad would have been glad to serve you in that way, Cousin Hamilton," said Mrs. Hill. "I am sorry you did not give him the first chance."
"Conrad wouldn't have suited me," said Mrs. Hamilton bluntly.
"Perhaps I may not be competent," suggested Ben modestly.
"We can tell better after trying you," said his patroness. "As for Conrad, I have obtained a position for him. He is to enter the offices of Jones & Woodhull, on Pearl Street, to-morrow. You will take an early breakfast, Conrad, for it will be necessary for you to be at the office at eight o'clock."
"How much am I to get?" asked Conrad.
"Four dollars a week. I shall let you have all this in lieu of the weekly allowance I pay you, but will provide you with clothing, as heretofore, so that this will keep you liberally supplied with pocket money."
"Conrad's brow cleared. He was lazy, and did not enjoy going to work, but the increase of his allowance would be satisfactory.
"And now, Ben, Mrs. Hill will kindly show you your room. It is the large hall bedroom on the third floor. When you have unpacked your valise, and got to feel at home, come downstairs, and we will have a little conversation upon business. You will find me in the sitting room, on the next floor."
"Thank you," said Ben politely, and he followed the pallid cousin upstairs. He was shown into a handsomely furnished room, bright and cheerful.
"This is a very pleasant room," he said.
"You won't occupy it long!" said Mrs. Hill to herself. "No one will step into my Conrad's place, if I can help it."