Part 16 (2/2)
”I shall be some time, and Aunt Jane never will,” returned Ben.
”I think, Mrs. Bradford,” said Mr. Manning, ”that your nephew is right in that. Seriously, I am inclined to favor the plan.”
”Do you really think Benjamin can be trusted, Mr. Manning?”
”I really do.”
”He has never been away from home.”
”I think he has plenty of self-reliance, and will quickly learn what little is needed about traveling. I am willing to trust him.”
”Thank you, sir,” said Ben, much gratified, feeling a high respect for Mr. Manning's judgment.
”Can you get him ready to go with me by the twelve-o'clock train?”
asked Mr. Manning.
”Twelve o'clock!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Bradford, startled. ”Why, it's nine now.”
”Well, aunt, can't I change my clothes in three hours?” asked Ben impatiently.
”But to go on such a journey! It seems so sudden.”
”I don't think there will be any trouble in getting ready,” said Mr.
Manning, to whom the journey to New York seemed like a mere trifle, though it was nearly six hundred miles away. ”Of course,”
he continued, ”I shall pay his expenses. And”--and here he hesitated a little, from motives of delicacy--”allow me to pay two weeks'
board in advance. You may have occasion to use the money.”
”Thank you, sir,” said Mrs. Bradford gratefully.
It did, indeed, relieve her from anxious embarra.s.sment, for her purse was very low; and if Ben were gone any length of time, she would have been in a dilemma.
”I think we have settled all that is needful,” said Mr. Manning, rising to go. ”If anything else occurs to me, I will either tell Ben or write to you. Good morning, Mrs. Bradford.”
”Good morning, sir.”
Turning to Ben, Mr. Manning said:
”Ben, let me see you at the hotel as early as half-past eleven.”
”I'll be on hand, sir,” said Ben. ”I'll get there earlier, if you say so.”
”Just as you like. When you come, call for me.”
”Yes, sir.”
”It doesn't seem as if you were going away, Ben,” said Tony.
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