Part 7 (1/2)
”You see I aint used to society, Fosd.i.c.k.”
”Nor I either.”
”But it seems to come natural to you. I'm always makin' some blunder.”
”You'll get over that in time, d.i.c.k. It's because you have so much fun in you. I am more sober. Miss Peyton seems very much amused by your odd remarks.”
”I have to talk so; I can't think of anything else to say.”
”There's one thing, d.i.c.k, we mustn't give up at any rate.”
”What's that?”
”Studying. We don't either of us know as much as we ought to.”
”That's so.”
”You can see how much good studying has done for you so far. If it hadn't been for that, you wouldn't have been able to go into Mr.
Rockwell's employment.”
”That's true enough, Fosd.i.c.k. I'm afraid I don't know enough now.”
”You know enough to get along very well for the present, but you want to rise.”
”You're right. When I get to be old and infirm I don't want to be an errand-boy.”
”Nor I either. So, d.i.c.k, I think we had better make up our minds to study an hour or an hour and a half every evening. Of course, you can't begin this evening, but there are very few when you can't find the time.”
”I'll send a circ'lar to my numerous friends on Fifth Avenue and Madison, tellin' 'em how much I'm obliged for their kind invitations, but the claims of literatoor and science can't be neglected.”
”Do you know, d.i.c.k, I think it might be well for us to begin French?”
”I wonder what Johnny Nolan would say if I should inquire after his health in the polly-voo language?”
”It wouldn't be the first time you have astonished him.”
”Well, Fosd.i.c.k, I'm in for it if you think it's best. Now tell me what necktie I shall wear?”
d.i.c.k displayed two. One was bright red with large figures, which he had bought soon after he began to board in Mott Street. The other was a plain black.
”You'd better wear the black one, d.i.c.k,” said Fosd.i.c.k, whose taste was simpler and better than his friend's.
”It seems to me it don't look handsome enough,” said d.i.c.k, whose taste had not yet been formed, and was influenced by the Bowery style of dress.
”It's more modest, and that is all the better.”
”All right. I suppose you know best. Before I get ready I must give a new s.h.i.+ne to my boots. I'm going to make them s.h.i.+ne so you can see your face in them.”
”Better let me do that for you, d.i.c.k. I can do it while you're dressing, and that will save time.”