“Well, mother,” said Herbert, as he entered the house, “I have brought
you enough fish for dinner.”
“I waited to see what luck you would have, Herbert, and therefore have
not got dinner ready. You will have to wait a little while.”
“I shall be all the hungrier, mother,” said Herbert.
Mrs. Carr could not help noticing the beaming look on her som's face.
“You look as if you had received a legacy, Herbert,” she said.
Herbert laughed.
“There it is,” he said, displaying the sixty cents he had received from
the landlord.
“There are ten cents more than I should have received for a whole day's
work at the store,” he said.
“Where did you get it, Herbert?”
“I sold a mess of fish to Mr. Barton, of the hotel.”
“You must have had good luck in fishing,” said his mother, looking
pleased.
“I had help, mother. Mr. Melville, the young man from the city, who
boards at the hotel, helped me fish.”
“Well, Herbert, you have made a good beginning. I couldn't help feeling
a little depressed when you left me this morning, reflecting that we
had but my pension to depend upon. It seemed so unlucky that Eben Graham
should have come home just at this time to deprive you of your place in
the store.”
“It was a piece of good luck for me, mother.”
“I don't see how,” said Mrs. Carr, naturally puzzled.
“Because I have a better situation already.”
Then Herbert, who had been saving the best news for the last, told his
mother of his engagement as Mr. Melville's companion, and the handsome
compensation he was to receive.
“Six dollars a week!” repeated his mother. “That is indeed generous.
Herbert, we did well to trust in Providence.”
“Yes, mother; and we have not trusted in vain.”
After dinner Herbert did some chores for his mother, and then went to
the hotel to meet his new employer. He found him occupying a large and
pleasant room on the second floor. The table near the window was covered
with books, and there were some thirty or forty volumes arranged on
shelves.
“I always bring books with me, Herbert,” said the young man. “I am very
fond of reading, and hitherto I have occupied too much time, perhaps, in
that way--too much, because it has interfered with necessary exercise.
Hereafter I shall devote my forenoon to some kind of outdoor exercise
in your company, and in the afternoon you can read to me, or we can
converse.”
“Shall I read to you now, Mr. Melville?” asked Herbert.
“Yes; here is a recent magazine. I will select an article for you to
read. It will rest my eyes, and besides it is pleasanter to have a
companion than to read one's self.”
The article was one that interested Herbert as well as Mr. Melville, and
he was surprised when he had finished to find that it was nearly five
o'clock.
“Didn't the reading tire you, Herbert?” asked Melville.
“No, sir; not at all.”
“It is evident that your lungs are stronger than mine.”
At five o'clock Melville dismissed his young companion.
“Do you wish me to come this evening?” asked Herbert.
“Oh, no. I wouldn't think of taking up your evenings.”
“At the post office I had to stay till eight o'clock.”
“Probably it was necessary there; I won't task you so much.”
“When shall I come to-morrow?”
“At nine o'clock.”
“That isn't very early,” said Herbert, smiling.
“No, I don't get up very early. My health won't allow me to cultivate
early rising. I shall not be through breakfast much before nine.”
“I see you don't mean to overwork me, Mr. Melville.”
“No, for it would involve overworking myself.”
“I shall certainly have an easy time,” thought Herbert, as he walked
homeward.
He reflected with satisfaction that he was being paid at the rate of a
dollar a day, which was quite beyond anything he had ever before earned.
Indeed, to-day he had earned sixty cents besides. The sum received for
the fish.
After supper Herbert went to the store to purchase some articles for his
mother. He was waited on by Mr. Graham in person. As the articles called
for would amount to nearly one dollar, the storekeeper said, cautiously:
“Of course, you are prepared to pay cash?”
“Certainly, sir,” returned Herbert.
“I mentioned it because I knew your income was small,” said Ebenezer,
apologetically.
“It is more than it was last week,” said Herbert, rather enjoying the
prospect of surprising the storekeeper.
“Why, you ain't found anything to do, have you?” asked Mr. Graham, his
face indicating curiosity.
“Yes, sir; I am engaged as companion by Mr. Melville, who is staying at
the hotel.”
“I don't know what he wants of a companion,” said the storekeeper, with
that disposition to criticise the affairs of his neighbors often found
in country places.
“He thinks he needs one,” answered Herbert.
“And how much does he pay you now?” queried Ebenezer.
“Six dollars a week.”
“You don't mean it!” ejaculated the storekeeper. “Why, the man must be
crazy!”
“I don't think he is,” said Herbert, smiling.
“Got plenty of money, I take it?” continued Ebenezer, who had a good
share of curiosity.
“Yes; he tells me he is rich.”
“How much money has he got?”
“He didn't tell me that.”
“Well, I declare! You're lucky, that's a fact!”
There was an interested listener to this conversation in the person of
Eben, who had been in the store all day, taking Herbert's place. As
we know, the position by no means suited the young man. He had been
employed in a store in Boston, and to come back to a small country
grocery might certainly be considered a descent. Besides, the small
compensation allowed him was far from satisfying Eben.
He was even more dissatisfied when he learned how fortunate Herbert was.
To be selected as a companion by a rich young man was just what he would
have liked himself, and he flattered himself that he should make a more
desirable companion than a mere boy like Herbert.
As our hero was leaving the store, Eben called him back.
“What was that you were telling father about going round with a young
man from the city?” he asked.
Herbert repeated it.
“And he pays you six dollars a week?” asked Eben, enviously.
“Yes; of course, I shouldn't have asked so much, but he fixed the price
himself.”
“You think he is very rich?” said Eben, thoughtfully.
“Yes, I think so.”
“What a splendid chance it would be for me!” thought Eben. “If I could
get intimate with a man like that, he might set me up in business some
day; perhaps take me to Europe, or round the world!” “How much of the
time do you expect to be with this Mr. Melville?” he asked.
Herbert answered the question.
“Does he seem like a man easy to get along with?”
“Very much so.”
Eben inwardly decided that, if he could, he would oust Herbert from his
desirable place, and substitute himself. It was a very mean thought, but
Eben inherited meanness from his father.
“Herbert,” he said, “will you do me a favor?”
“What is it?” asked our hero.
“Will you take my place in the store this evening? I am not feeling
well, and want to take a walk.”
“Yes,” answered Herbert, “as soon as I have run home to tell mother
where I am.”
“That's a good fellow. You shan't lose anything by it. I'll give you ten
cents.”
“You needn't pay me anything, Eben. I'll do it as a favor.”
“You're a trump, Herbert. Come back as soon as you can.”
When Eben was released from the store, he went over to the hotel, and
inquired for Mr. Melville, leaving his unsuspecting young substitute in
the post office.