CHAPTER XXIII.
AN EXPLANATION.
It would be hard to tell which of the two was the more surprised at themeeting, Philip or Mr. Carter.
"I don't understand how Mr. Pitkin came to hear of my return. I didn'ttelegraph," said the old gentleman.
"I don't think he knows anything about it," said Phil.
"Didn't he send you to the pier?"
"No, sir."
"Then how is it that you are not in the store at this time?" asked Mr.Carter, puzzled.
"Because I am no longer in Mr. Pitkin's employ. I was discharged lastSaturday."
"Discharged! What for?"
"Mr. Pitkin gave no reason. He said my services were no longerrequired. He spoke roughly to me, and has since declined to give me arecommendation, though I told him that without it I should be unable tosecure employment elsewhere."
Mr. Carter frowned. He was evidently annoyed and indignant.
"This must be inquired into," he said. "Philip, call a carriage, and Iwill at once go to the Astor House and take a room. I had intended togo at once to Mr. Pitkin's, but I shall not do so until I have had anexplanation of this outrageous piece of business."
Phil was rejoiced to hear this, for he was at the end of his resources,and the outlook for him was decidedly gloomy. He had about made up hismind to sink his pride and go into business as a newsboy the next day,but the very unexpected arrival of Mr. Carter put quite a new face onmatters.
He called a carriage, and both he and Mr. Carter entered it.
"How do you happen to be back so soon, sir?" asked Phil, when they wereseated. "I thought you were going to Florida for a couple of months."
"I started with that intention, but on reaching Charleston I changed mymind. I expected to find some friends at St. Augustine, but I learnedthat they were already returning to the North, and I felt that I shouldbe lonely and decided to return. I am very glad I did, now. Did youreceive my letter?"
"Your letter?" queried Philip, looking at Mr. Carter in surprise.
"Certainly. I gave Alonzo a letter for you, which I had directed to yourboarding-house, and requested him to mail it. It contained a ten-dollarbill."
"I never received any such letter, sir. It would have been of greatservice to me--the money, I mean; for I have found it hard to live onfive dollars a week. Now I have not even that."
"Is it possible that Alonzo could have suppressed the letter?" said Mr.Carter to himself.
"At any rate I never received it."
"Here is something else to inquire into," said Mr. Carter. "If Alonzohas tampered with my letter, perhaps appropriated the money, it will bethe worse for him."
"I hardly think he would do that, sir; though I don't like him."
"You are generous; but I know the boy better than you do. He is fond ofmoney, not for the sake of spending it, but for the sake of hoarding it.Tell me, then, how did you learn that I had gone to Florida?"
"I learned it at the house in Twelfth Street."
"Then you called there?"
"Yes, sir; I called to see you. I found it hard to get along on mysalary, and I did not want Mrs. Forbush to lose by me, so I----"
"Mrs. Forbush?" repeated the old gentleman quickly. "That name soundsfamiliar to me."
"Mrs. Forbush is your niece," said Phil, a hope rising in his heart thathe might be able to do his kind landlady a good turn.
"Did she tell you that?"
"No, sir; that is, I was ignorant of it until I met her just as I wasgoing away from Mrs. Pitkin's."
"Did she call there, too--to see me?" asked the old gentleman.
"Yes, sir; but she got a very cold reception. Mrs. Pitkin was very rudeto her, and said that you were so much prejudiced against her that shehad better not call again."
"That's like her cold selfishness. I understand her motives very well. Ihad no idea that Mrs. Forbush was in the city. Is she--poor?"
"Yes, sir; she is having a hard struggle to maintain herself and herdaughter."
"And you board at her house?"
"Yes, sir."
"How strangely things come about! She is as nearly related to me asLavinia--Mrs. Pitkin."
"She told me so."
"She married against the wishes of her family, but I can see now that wewere all unreasonably prejudiced against her. Lavinia, however, trumpedup stories against her husband, which I am now led to believe were quitedestitute of foundation, and did all she could to keep alive the feud. Ifeel now that I was very foolish to lend myself to her selfish ends. Ofcourse her object was to get my whole fortune for herself and her boy."
Phil had no doubt of this, but he did not like to say so, for it wouldseem that he, too, was influenced by selfish motives.
"Then you are not so much prejudiced against Mrs. Forbush as she wastold?" he allowed himself to say.
"No, no!" said Mr. Carter earnestly. "Poor Rebecca! She has a muchbetter nature and disposition than Mrs. Pitkin. And you say she ispoor?"
"She had great difficulty in paying her last month's rent," said Philip.
"Where does she live?"
Phil told him.
"What sort of a house is it?"
"It isn't a brown-stone front," answered Phil, smiling. "It is a poor,cheap house; but it is as good as she can afford to hire."
"And you like her?"
"Very much, Mr. Carter. She has been very kind to me, and though shefinds it so hard to get along, she has told me she will keep me as longas she has a roof over her head, though just now I cannot pay my board,because my income is gone."
"It will come back again, Philip," said the old gentleman.
Phil understood by this that he would be restored to his place in Mr.Pitkin's establishment. This did not yield him unalloyed satisfaction,for he was sure that it would be made unpleasant for him by Mr. Pitkin.Still he would accept it, and meet disagreeable things as well as hecould.
By this time they had reached the Astor House.
Phil jumped out first, and assisted Mr. Carter to descend.
He took Mr. Carter's hand-bag, and followed him into the hotel.
Mr. Carter entered his name in the register.
"What is your name?" he asked--"Philip Brent?"
"Yes, sir."
"I will enter your name, too."
"Am I to stay here?" asked Phil, in surprise.
"Yes; I shall need a confidential clerk, and for the present you willfill that position. I will take two adjoining rooms--one for you."
Phil listened in surprise.
"Thank you, sir," he said.
Mr. Carter gave orders to have his trunk sent for from the steamer, andtook possession of the room. Philip's room was smaller, but considerablymore luxurious than the one he occupied at the house of Mrs. Forbush.
"Have you any money, Philip?" asked the old gentleman.
"I have twenty-five cents," answered Philip.
"That isn't a very large sum," said Mr. Carter, smiling. "Here, let mereplenish your pocketbook."
He drew four five-dollar bills from his wallet and handed them to Phil.
"How can I thank you, sir?" asked Phil gratefully.
"Wait till you have more to thank me for. Let me tell you this, that intrying to harm you, Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin have done you a great service."
"I should like to see Mrs. Forbush this evening, if you can spare me, tolet her know that she needn't be anxious about me."
"By all means. You can go."
"Am I at liberty to mention that I have seen you, sir?"
"Yes. Tell her that I will call to-morrow. And you may take her this."
Mr. Carter drew a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and passed it toPhil.
"Get it changed at the office as you go out," he said. "Come back assoon as you can."
With a joyful heart Phil jumped on a Fourth Avenue car in front of thehotel, and started on his way up town.