Part 17 (1/2)
”No, sir; I confess my ignorance.”
”I apprehend you won't require it in my friend Goodnow's establishment.”
”If I do, I will learn it,” said Rodney, rather enjoying the joke.
”If I write a book about America, I shall certainly put in a paragraph about a learned office boy. I think you are ent.i.tled to something for your knowledge of Greek and Latin--say five dollars apiece,” and Mr.
Mulgrave drew from his pocket two gold pieces and handed them to Rodney.
”Thank you very much, sir,” said Rodney. ”I shall find this money very useful, as I have taken a room, and am setting up housekeeping.”
”Then you have left the Lodging House?”
”Yes, sir; I only spent one night there.”
”You are right. It is no doubt a great blessing to the needy street boys, but you belong to a different cla.s.s.”
”It is very fortunate I went there last evening, or I should not have met you and Mr. Goodnow.”
”I am glad to have been the means of doing you a service,” said the Englishman kindly, shaking hands with Rodney, who bowed and went back to his work.
”I am not sure but you are taking too much notice of that boy, Mulgrave,” said the merchant.
”No fear! He is not a common boy. You won't regret employing him.”
”I hope not.”
Then they talked of other matters, for Mr. Mulgrave was to start on his return to England the following day.
At five o'clock Rodney's day was over, and he went back to Bleecker Street. He found Mike already there, working hard to get his hands clean, soiled as they were by the stains of blacking.
”Did you have a good day, Mike?” asked Rodney.
”Yes; I made a dollar and ten cents. Here's a quarter towards the rent.”
”All right! I see you are prompt in money matters.”
”I try to be. Do you know, Rodney, I worked better for feelin' that I had a room of my own to go to after I got through. I hope I'll soon be able to get into a different business.”
”I hope so, too.”
Two days later Rodney's trunk arrived. In the evening he opened it.
He took out a dark mixed suit about half worn, and said, ”Try that on, Mike.”
Mike did so. It fitted as if it were made for him.
”You can have it, Mike,” said Rodney.