Not altogether in accordance with his inclinations, Walter was set towork at his studies immediately under the direction of Mr. Crabb. Heasked his father for a week's vacation to go about the city with Hector,but his father answered in the negative.
"You are too far behind in your studies, Walter," he said. "You are twoyears, at least, behind Hector, and cannot spare the time as well ashe."
"Hector will have to go round alone," objected Walter.
"It will do him no harm to get acquainted with the different partsof the city, as that will be a kind of knowledge he may require if heshould obtain a situation."
"I shan't see much of him."
"Oh, yes, you will; Mr. Crabb will not make you study all day. Mr.Crabb, you may work with Walter from nine to one. This, with perhaps anhour or more devoted to study in the afternoon or evening, will enablehim to make fair progress."
This arrangement struck Walter favorably, as he could, whenever hedesired it, spend the whole afternoon with Hector.
Hector found it very pleasant to act upon the suggestion made by Mr.Ross. He had visited the city of New York at different times, but hadnever enjoyed the opportunity of exploring it by himself. His firstvisit was made to Central Park, where he mingled with the crowdswandering about in search of pleasure.
He made his way to the lake, and took passage in one of the skiffswhich, in charge of a skilled oarsman, makes a tour of the pretty andpicturesque sheet of water.
The second morning he turned his steps southward, and walked downBroadway. It was a leisurely walk, for he had no scruple in stoppingwherever he saw anything in the streets or in the shop windows thatseemed to him worthy of attention. About the corner of Canal Streethe was very much surprised at a boy who was on his knees, blacking theboots of an elderly gentleman--a boy whom he recognized at once as theson of a man who had for years been in his father's employ as gardenerat Castle Roscoe.
"What brings him here?" thought Hector, much surprised.
"Larry Deane!" he said, as the boy finished his job, and rose from hisfeet to receive his pay.
"Hector Roscoe!" exclaimed Larry, not much less surprised.
"What brings you here, and what has reduced you to such work?" inquiredHector.
Larry Deane was a boy of about Hector's age. He was a healthy-lookingcountry lad, looking like many another farmer's son, fresh fromthe country. He had not yet acquired that sharp, keen look whichcharacterizes, in most cases, the New York boy who has spent all hislife in the streets.
"I can answer both your questions with the same word, Master Hector,"said Larry, as a sober look swept over his broad, honest face.
"Don't call me master, Larry. We are equals here. But what is thatword?"
"That word is trouble,'" answered the bootblack.
"Come with me into this side street," said Hector, leading the way intoHoward Street. "You have a story to tell, and I want to hear it."
"Yes, I have a story to tell."
"I hope your father and mother are well," said Hector, interrupting him.
"Yes, they are well in health, but they are in trouble, as I told you."
"What is the trouble?"
"It all comes of Mr. Allan Roscoe," answered Larry, "and his son, Guy."
"Tell me all about it."
"I was walking in the fields one day," said Larry, "when Guy came outand began to order me round, and call me a clodhopper and other unlikelynames, which I didn't enjoy. Finally he pulled off my hat, and when Iput it back on my head, he pulled it off again. Finally I found the onlyway to do was to give him as good as he sent. So I pulled off his hatand threw it up in a tree. He became very angry, and ordered me to go upafter it. I wouldn't do it, but walked away. The next day my fatherwas summoned to the house, where Mr. Allan Roscoe complained of me forinsulting his son. He asked my father to thrash me, and when fatherrefused, he discharged him from his employment. A day or two afterward anew gardener came to Roscoe Castle, and father understood that there wasno chance of his being taken back."
"That was very mean in Mr. Roscoe," said Hector, indignantly.
"Yes, so it was; but father couldn't do anything. He couldn't get anew place, for it wasn't the right time of year, and Mr. Roscoe said hewouldn't give him a recommendation. Well, we had very little money inthe house, for mother has been sick of late years, and all father'sextra earnings went to pay for medicines and the doctor's bill. So oneday I told father I would come to New York and see if I couldn't findsomething to do."
"I think you did the right thing, Larry," said Hector, approvingly. "Itwas your duty to help your father if you could."
"I can't help him much," answered Larry.
"What made you take up this business, Larry?"
"I couldn't get anything else to do, besides, this pays better thanworking in a store or office."
"How--much can you earn at it?"
"Six or seven dollars a week."
"I should think it would require all that to support you."
"It would if I went to a boarding house, but I can't afford that."
"Where do you live?"
"At the Newsboys' Lodging House."
"How much does that cost you?"
"For eighteen cents a day I get supper, lodging and breakfast. In themiddle of the day I go to a cheap restaurant."
"Then you are able to save something?"
"Yes; last week I sent home three dollars, the week before two dollarsand a half."
"Why, that is doing famously. You are a good boy, Larry."
"Thank you, Hector; but, though it is doing very well for me, it isn'tas much as they need at home. Besides, I can't keep it up, as, aftera while, I shall need to buy some new clothes. If your father had beenalive, my father would never have lost his place. Master Hector, won'tyou use your influence with your uncle to have him taken back?"
Hector felt keenly how powerless he was in the matter. He looked grave,as he answered:
"Larry, you may be sure that I would do all in my power to have yourfather restored to the position from which he never should have beenremoved; but I fear I can do nothing."
"Won't you write to Mr. Roscoe?" pleaded Larry, who, of course, did notunderstand why Hector was powerless.
"Yes, I will write to him, but I am sorry to say that I have very littleinfluence with Mr. Roscoe."
"That is strange," said Larry; "and you the owner of the estate."
Hector did not care to explain to Larry just how matters stood, so heonly said:
"I can't explain to you what seems strange to you, Larry, but I may beable to do so some time. I will certainly write to Mr. Roscoe, as youdesire; but you must not build any hopes upon it. Meanwhile, will youaccept this from me, and send it to your father?"
As he spoke, he drew from his pocketbook a five-dollar bill and handedit to his humble friend.
Larry would not have accepted it had he known that Hector was nearly aspoor as himself, but, supposing him to be the heir of a large and richestate, he felt no hesitation.
"Thank you very much, Hector," he said; "you had always a kind heart.This money will do my father very much good. I will send it to himto-day."
"Do you generally stand here, Larry?" asked Hector.
"Yes."
"Then I will take pains to see you again."
"Shall you stay long in the city, Master Hector?"
"Not Master Hector."
"Then Hector, if you don't mind."
"I shall be here for the present--I don't know how long."
"Then let me black your boots for nothing every time you come by--I wantto do something for you."
"Thank you, Larry; but I don't like to have a friend perform such aservice. Remember me to your father when you write."
"I wish I could do something for Larry," said Hector, to himself, as hewalked away. "As it is, I stand in need of help myself."
He was to make a friend that day under rather unusual circumstances.
CHAPTER XXVIII. TWO MORE ACQUAINTANCES.
Hector's Inheritance, Or, the Boys of Smith Institute Page 27