CHAPTER IX.
AT THE END OF THREE MONTHS.
Rufus soon became accustomed to his new boarding-house, and came to likeit. It gratified his pride to perceive that he was regarded as an equalby his fellow-boarders, and that his little sister Rose was a generalfavorite. It seemed almost a dream, and a very disagreeable one, thelife they had formerly lived in the miserable tenement-house in LeonardStreet; but still the remembrance of that time heightened his enjoymentof his present comforts and even luxuries. He usually spent the eveningin Miss Manning's room, and, feeling the deficiencies in his education,commenced a course of study and reading. He subscribed to the MercantileLibrary, and thus obtained all the books he wanted at a very moderaterate.
By way of showing how they lived at this time, I will introduce thereader to Miss Manning's room one evening, about three months afterRufus had begun to board in the house.
Miss Manning was seated at the table sewing. Her young pupils were goneto bed, and she had the evening to herself. Rufus was reading Abbott's"Life of Napoleon," which he found very interesting. Little Rose hadfallen asleep on the sofa.
"What are you sewing upon, Miss Manning?" asked Rufus, looking up fromhis book.
"I am making a dress for Rose."
"When you get tired, just let me know, and I will sew a little for you."
"Thank you, Rufus," said Miss Manning, smiling, "but I suppose it won'thurt your feelings much, if I doubt your abilities as a seamstress."
"I am afraid I shouldn't make a very good living at that, Miss Manning.Times have changed a little since you used to sew from morning tillnight."
"Yes, they have. I used to see some hard times, Rufus. But everythinghas changed since I got acquainted with you and little Rose. I sometimesam tempted to regard you as my good angel."
"Thank you, I don't know much about angels, but I'm afraid I don't lookmuch like one. They never have red cheeks, and do business in WallStreet, do they?"
"From what I have heard, I don't believe Wall Street is a favoriteresort with them. But, seriously, everything seems to have prosperedsince I met you. Really, I am beginning to be a capitalist. How muchmoney do you think I have saved up out of the three dollars a week whichyou pay me?"
"You've bought some things for yourself and Rose, haven't you?"
"Yes, we have each had a dress, and some little things."
"Then I don't see how you could save up much."
"I made the dresses myself, and that was a great saving. Let me see,you've paid me forty-two dollars, in all, for fourteen weeks. I will seehow much I have left."
She went to the bureau, and took out her pocket-book.
"I have twenty-five dollars," she said, counting the contents. "Am I notgrowing rich?"
"Perhaps you'd like to speculate with it in Wall Street?" suggestedRufus.
"I think I'd better keep the money, or put it in a savings-bank."
"When you have money enough, I can buy you a fifty-dollar governmentbond."
"I shall have to wait a while first."
"Well, as for me," said Rufus, "I can't tell exactly how I do stand. Itook fifty dollars out of that five hundred I had in the savings-bank. Ithink I've got about half of it left. The rest of it went for a trunk,car fare, and other expenses. So, you see, I've been going down hill,while you've been climbing up."
"Have you drawn anything from your store yet, Rufus? You were to drawfifty dollars a quarter, I believe."
"Yes; and that reminds me that George Black promised to call thisevening, and pay the money. It's about time to expect him."
Rufus had hardly spoken, when a servant knocked at the door.
Rufus opened it.
"There's a young man downstairs, that would like to see you, Mr.Rushton," she said.
"Where is he, Nancy?"
"In the parlor."
"I'll go right down. I think it must be Black," he said, turning to MissManning.
"If it is, of course you will bring him up."
"Yes, I should like to. We can't talk very well in such a public place."
Rufus went down, and shortly reappeared with George Black.
"Good-evening, Mr. Black," said Miss Manning; "take a seat. I hope youare well."
"I'm thriving," said Black. "How pleasant and cheerful you look!"
"Yes, the room is rather high up; but it is pleasant when you get toit."
"We were just speaking of you, when the girl came to let us know thatyou were here."
"I hope you said nothing very bad about me."
"Not very."
"I think I shall be welcome, as I have brought you some money."
"Money is always welcome here," said Rufus. "I'll take care of all youcan bring."
"I have brought fifty dollars, according to our agreement."
"Can you spare that amount without affecting the business?"
"Oh, yes."
"I suppose you can't tell me what the profits have been for the lastthree months."
"Not exactly; but I have made a rough calculation. As it was the firstquarter, I knew you would like to know."
"Well, what is your estimate?"
"As well as I can judge we have cleared about two hundred and fiftydollars."
"That is at the rate of a thousand dollars a year."
"Yes; isn't that doing well?"
"Capitally. Do you think the business will hold out at that rate?"
"I feel sure of it. I hope to improve upon it."
"Even if you don't, that will give you nearly seven hundred dollars ayear, and me over three hundred."
"That's better than clerking,--for me, I mean."
"Perhaps you might get more as a clerk."
"Perhaps I might; but now I am my own master, and then I shouldn't be.Besides, I have plans in view which I think will increase our custom,and of course our profits also."
"Success to the firm of Rushton & Black!" said Miss Manning, smiling.
"Thank you," said Rufus; "I like that sentiment, and I'd drink to it ifI saw anything to drink. Have you got any champagne in the closet, MissManning?"
"All that I ever had there, Rufus. If a glass of water will do as well,I can give you that."
At this moment a knock was heard at the door. Miss Manning rose andopened it. The visitor proved to be Mrs. Clifton, of whom mention hasalready been made.
"Good-evening, Mrs. Clifton," said the governess; "come in."
"Thank you, but I didn't know you had company."
"Don't stand on ceremony, Mrs. Clifton," said Rufus; "my friend, Mr.Black, is perfectly harmless, I assure you. He is neither a bull nor abear."
"What spirits you have, Mr. Rushton!"
"No spirits at all, Mrs. Clifton. Miss Manning has just been offering ussome water as a substitute."
"You are _so_ lively, Mr. Rushton. You remind me so much of my friend,Mr. Hunter."
"I suppose he was one of your admirers before you became Mrs. Clifton."
"Really, Mr. Rushton, you mustn't say such things. Mr. Hunter and I werevery intimate friends, but nothing more, I assure you."
"Is Mr. Clifton well?" asked Miss Manning.
"He hasn't got home from the store. You know the dry goods stores alwayskeep open late. Really, I might as well have no husband at all, it is solate when Mr. Clifton gets home, and then he is so sleepy that he can'tkeep his eyes open."
It was generally believed that Mr. and Mrs. Clifton did not livetogether as happily as they might have done,--a fact that will not atall surprise those who are familiar with their history before theirmarriage, which was quite a business arrangement. Mrs. Clifton marriedbecause she did not want to be an old maid, and Mr. Clifton because heknew his prospective wife had money, by means of which he couldestablish himself in business.
"Are you in business in Wall Street, Mr. Black?" inquired Mrs. Clifton.
"No; I keep a store on Sixth Avenue."
"Indeed! my husband keeps a dry goods store on Eighth Avenue."
"Mine is a perio
dical and fancy goods store. Mr. Rushton here is mypartner."
"Indeed, Mr. Rushton, I am surprised to hear that. You have not leftWall Street, have you?"
"No; I have only invested a portion of my extensive capital. My friendBlack carries on the business."
Thus far, Rufus had said nothing in the house about his connection withthe Sixth Avenue store; but now that it was no longer an experiment hefelt that there was no objection to doing so. Mrs. Clifton, who liked toretail news, took care to make it known in the house, and the impressionbecame general that Rufus was a young man of property. Mr. Pratt, whowas an elderly man, rather given to prosy dissertations upon publicaffairs, got into the habit of asking our hero's opinion upon thefinancial policy of the government, to which, when expressed, he used tolisten with his head a little on one side, as though the words werethose of an oracle. This embarrassed Rufus a little at first; but asduring the day he was in a situation to hear considerable in referenceto this subject, he was generally able to answer in a way that wasregarded as satisfactory.
"That young man," remarked Mr. Pratt to his wife in private, "has got ahead upon his shoulders. He knows what's what. Depend upon it, if helives long enough, he will become a prominent man."
"I can't judge of that," said good-natured Mrs. Pratt; "but he's a veryagreeable young man, I am sure, and his sister is a little darling."