Part 47 (2/2)
”Thank you, my boy,” he said, in a tremulous voice.
”You seem feeble,” said Ben compa.s.sionately.
”Yes, I am not strong.”
”If you wish it I will accompany you to your house; you might fall again.”
”What is your name?”
”Benjamin Bradford.”
”Where do you board?” asked the old man abruptly.
”At No.---Warren Avenue.”
”I want to find a comfortable boarding-house. Do you think I could get in there?”
”Yes, sir; I know Mrs. Draper has a vacant room.”
”Is she reasonable in her charges?”
”If she were not I could not afford to board there.”
”I've a great mind to go there,” said the old man.
”I wonder if he has money enough to pay his board regularly,”
thought Ben.
Just then a grandson of Mrs. Draper's, Charlie Hunting, a boy rather younger than Ben, came up.
”How are you, Ben?” he said.
”All right, Charlie. Do you know if your grandmother has let the bedroom on the second floor?”
”Yes, I know she hasn't.”
”Would you like to go and see it, sir?” asked Ben.
”Yes,” said the old man. ”Is it far?”
”About half a mile; but we can take the cars.”
”No, I can walk, if you will walk slow enough for me. I am not so young as I was.”
”Certainly, sir. Charlie, if you are going home, just tell your grandmother that this gentleman is coming to look at her room.
You needn't wait for me.”
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