"Well, mother," said Herbert, as he entered the house, "I have broughtyou enough fish for dinner."
"I waited to see what luck you would have, Herbert, and therefore havenot 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 fromthe landlord.
"There are ten cents more than I should have received for a whole day'swork 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, lookingpleased.
"I had help, mother. Mr. Melville, the young man from the city, whoboards at the hotel, helped me fish."
"Well, Herbert, you have made a good beginning. I couldn't help feelinga little depressed when you left me this morning, reflecting that wehad but my pension to depend upon. It seemed so unlucky that Eben Grahamshould have come home just at this time to deprive you of your place inthe 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 hismother of his engagement as Mr. Melville's companion, and the handsomecompensation 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 tothe hotel to meet his new employer. He found him occupying a large andpleasant room on the second floor. The table near the window was coveredwith books, and there were some thirty or forty volumes arranged onshelves.
"I always bring books with me, Herbert," said the young man. "I am veryfond of reading, and hitherto I have occupied too much time, perhaps, inthat way--too much, because it has interfered with necessary exercise.Hereafter I shall devote my forenoon to some kind of outdoor exercisein your company, and in the afternoon you can read to me, or we canconverse."
"Shall I read to you now, Mr. Melville?" asked Herbert.
"Yes; here is a recent magazine. I will select an article for you toread. It will rest my eyes, and besides it is pleasanter to have acompanion than to read one's self."
The article was one that interested Herbert as well as Mr. Melville, andhe was surprised when he had finished to find that it was nearly fiveo'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 cultivateearly 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 walkedhomeward.
He reflected with satisfaction that he was being paid at the rate of adollar a day, which was quite beyond anything he had ever before earned.Indeed, to-day he had earned sixty cents besides. The sum received forthe fish.
After supper Herbert went to the store to purchase some articles for hismother. He was waited on by Mr. Graham in person. As the articles calledfor 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 theprospect of surprising the storekeeper.
"Why, you ain't found anything to do, have you?" asked Mr. Graham, hisface indicating curiosity.
"Yes, sir; I am engaged as companion by Mr. Melville, who is staying atthe hotel."
"I don't know what he wants of a companion," said the storekeeper, withthat disposition to criticise the affairs of his neighbors often foundin 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 becrazy!"
"I don't think he is," said Herbert, smiling.
"Got plenty of money, I take it?" continued Ebenezer, who had a goodshare 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 ofEben, who had been in the store all day, taking Herbert's place. Aswe know, the position by no means suited the young man. He had beenemployed in a store in Boston, and to come back to a small countrygrocery might certainly be considered a descent. Besides, the smallcompensation 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 wouldhave liked himself, and he flattered himself that he should make a moredesirable 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 youngman 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 pricehimself."
"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 couldget intimate with a man like that, he might set me up in business someday; perhaps take me to Europe, or round the world!" "How much of thetime 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 hisdesirable place, and substitute himself. It was a very mean thought, butEben 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 feelingwell, and want to take a walk."
"Yes," answered Herbert, "as soon as I have run home to tell motherwhere I am."
"That's a good fellow. You shan't lose anything by it. I'll give you tencents."
"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, andinquired for Mr. Melville, leaving his unsuspecting young substitute inthe post office.
CHAPTER VIII. EBEN'S ASSURANCE.
Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune Page 7