Part 24 (1/2)
Mordaunt laughed.
”That explains it fully,” he said. ”So you are rivals for the young lady's hand?”
”Not quite. I ain't quite ready to be married yet. I'll wait awhile.
But Bessie's a tip-top girl.”
”You must introduce me some time.”
”All right. I'll try and get an invitation for you to call with me.”
About eight o'clock Maurice reached Crescent Place, and, scanning the numbers, found No. 12.
”He can't live in such a house,” thought he. ”It's ridiculous.”
Still, he rang the bell, and, when the servant appeared, he asked, rather hesitatingly:
”Does Gilbert Grey live here?”
”Yes, sir,” said the servant. ”Will you go up to his room?”
”I don't know where his room is. Will you ask him to come down?”
”There is somebody to see you, Mr. Grey,” said the servant, after mounting the stairs.
”He's come,” said our hero, in a low voice, to Mordaunt. ”I'll go down and bring him up.”
Tom descended the stairs and welcomed Maurice.
”I'm glad you're come, Mr. Walton,” he said. ”Come up stairs to my room.”
Finding that he did, after all, live in this handsome house, Maurice expected that it was on the upper floor, and was surprised when Tom led the way into a handsome parlor on the second floor.
”My roommate, Mr. Mordaunt, Mr. Walton,” said Tom, introducing the visitor.
”I am glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Walton,” said Mordaunt. ”Take a seat,” and he indicated a luxurious armchair.
Maurice sank into its depths, and looked around him with wonder. How in the world could a fellow like Tom, earning a salary of five dollars a week, afford to board so luxuriously? Why, it quite eclipsed even his uncle's rooms. Handsome pictures, books, statuary, and choice furniture, under the brilliant blaze of an argand burner, made a beautiful apartment.
”You've got a nice room,” he could not help saying.
”Won't you look at the bedroom?” said Mordaunt, politely.
Maurice looked in, and found it in proportion to the parlor.
”Gilbert and I manage to make ourselves comfortable,” said Mordaunt.
”We enjoy it ourselves, and are glad to have a pleasant place to invite our friends to.”
Maurice was astonished; but such is the influence of wealth, or apparent wealth, upon a disposition like his, that he thawed, and made up his mind that he had better change his manner toward one who was able to afford living in such a style.