XXV.
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
Paul slept late the next morning. He did not hear the breakfast-bell,and when the sexton came up to awaken him he rubbed his eyes withsuch an expression of bewilderment that Mr. Cameron could not forbearlaughing.
"You must have had queer dreams, Paul," said he.
"Yes, Uncle Hugh," said Paul, laughing, "I believe I have."
"When you have collected your wits, which at present seem absent ona wool-gathering expedition, perhaps you will tell what you have beendreaming about."
"So I will," said Paul, "and perhaps you can interpret it for me. Idreamed that I was back again at Mr. Mudge's, and that he sent me outinto the field to dig potatoes. I worked away at the first hill, butfound no potatoes. In place of them were several gold pieces. I pickedthem up in great surprise, and instead of putting them into the basket,concluded to put them in my pocket. But as all the hills turned outin the same way I got my pockets full, and had to put the rest in thebasket. I was just wondering what they would do for potatoes, when allat once a great dog came up and seized me by the arm----"
"And you opened your eyes and saw me," said the sexton, finishing outhis narrative.
"Upon my word, that's very complimentary to me. However, some of ourpotatoes have escaped transformation into gold pieces, but I am afraidyou will find them rather cold if you don't get down to breakfast prettyquick."
"All right, Uncle Hugh. I'll be down in a jiffy."
About half-past ten Paul started on his way to Mr. Danforth'scounting-room. It was located on Wall Street, as he learned from thecard which had been given him by Mrs. Danforth. He felt a little awkwardin making this call. It seemed as if he were going to receive thanks forthe service which he had rendered, and he felt that he had already beenabundantly repaid. However, he was bound in courtesy to call, since hedid so at the request of Mrs. Danforth.
It was a large stone building, divided up into offices, to which Paulhad been directed. Mr. Danforth's office he found after a little search,upon the second floor.
He opened the door with a little embarrassment, and looked about him.
In one corner was a small room, used as a more private office, the doorof which was closed. In the larger room the only one whom he saw, wasa boy, apparently about his own age, who was standing at a desk andwriting.
This boy looked around as Paul entered, and he at once recognized in himan old acquaintance.
"George Dawkins!" he exclaimed in surprise.
The latter answered in a careless indifferent tone, not exhibiting anyvery decided pleasure at meeting his old schoolmate.
"Oh, it's you, Prescott, is it?"
"Yes," said Paul, "I haven't met you since you left our school."
"No, I believe we have not met," said Dawkins, in the same tone asbefore.
"How long have you been in this office?" asked our hero.
"I really can't say," said Dawkins, not looking up.
"You can't say!"
"No, I'm rather forgetful."
Paul could not help feeling chilled at the indifferent manner in whichhis advances were met. He had been really glad to see Dawkins, and hadaddressed him with cordiality. He could not conceal from himself thatDawkins did not seem inclined to respond to it.
"Still," thought Paul, extenuatingly, "perhaps that is his way."
As the conversation began to flag, Paul was reminded of his errand byDawkins saying, in a tone which was half a sneer, "Have you any businesswith Mr. Danforth this morning, or did you merely come in out ofcuriosity?"
"I have called to see Mr. Danforth," said Paul.
"He is usually pretty busy in the morning," said Dawkins.
"He directed me to call in the morning," said Paul, sturdily.
"Oh, indeed!" said Dawkins, a little surprised. "I wonder," he thought,"what business this fellow can have with Mr. Danforth. Can he be fishingfor a place?"
"Mr. Danforth is engaged with a visitor just now," he at lengthcondescended to say; "if your time is not too valuable to wait, you cansee him by-and-by."
"Thank you," said Paul, rather nettled, "you are very polite."
To this Dawkins made no reply, but resumed his pen, and for the next tenminutes seemed entirely oblivious of Paul's presence.
Our hero took up the morning paper, and began, as he had so often donebefore, to look over the list of wants, thinking it possible he mightfind some opening for himself.
About ten minutes later the door of the inner office opened, and twogentlemen came out. One was a gentleman of fifty, a business friend ofMr. Danforth's, the other was Mr. Danforth himself.
The former remarked, on seeing Paul, "Is this your son, Danforth?"
"No," said the merchant, nodding in a friendly manner to Paul.
"That's a good joke," thought Dawkins, chuckling to himself; "Mr.Danforth must be immensely flattered at having a sexton's adopted sontaken for his."
After a final word or two on business matters, and arrangements foranother interview, the visitor departed, and Mr. Danforth, now atleisure, turned to Paul.
"Now my lad," he said kindly, "if you will follow me, we shall have achance to talk a little."
Paul followed the merchant into his office, the door of which wasclosed, much to the regret of Dawkins, who had a tolerably large shareof curiosity, and was very anxious to find out what business Paul couldpossibly have with his employer.
"Take that seat, if you please;" said Mr. Danforth, motioning Paul toan arm-chair, and sitting down himself, "Mrs. Danforth told me from howgreat a peril you rescued her. You are a brave boy."
"I don't know," said Paul, modestly, "I didn't think of the danger. If Ihad, perhaps I should have hesitated."
"If you had not been brave you would have thought of your own risk. Mywife and myself are under very great obligations to you."
"That more than repays me for all I did," said Paul, in a tone ofmingled modesty and manliness.
"I like the boy," thought Mr. Danforth; "he is certainly quite superiorto the common run."
"Have you left school?" he inquired, after a pause.
"Yes, sir. Last term closed my school life."
"Then you have never been in a situation."
"Yes, sir."
"Indeed! Before you left school?"
"No, sir, since."
"You did not like it, then?"
"No, sir," said Paul.
"And was that the reason of your leaving?"
"No, sir; my employer was not satisfied with me," said Paul, frankly.
"Indeed! I am surprised to hear this! If you have no objection, will youtell me the circumstances?"
Paul related in a straightforward manner the difficulty he had had withSmith & Thompson.
"I hope you don't think I did wrong," he concluded.
"By no means," said Mr. Danforth, warmly. "Your conduct was entirelycreditable. As for Smith, I know of him. He is a sharper. It would havedone you no good to remain in his employ."
Paul was pleased with this commendation. He had thought it possible thathis dismissal from his former situation might operate against him withthe merchant.
"What are your present plans and wishes?" asked Mr. Danforth, after aslight pause.
"I should like to enter a merchant's counting-room," said Paul, "but assuch places are hard to get, I think I shall try to get into a store."
Mr. Danforth reflected a moment, then placing a piece of paper beforeour hero, he said, "Will you write your name and address on this pieceof paper, that I may know where to find you, in case I hear of a place?"
Paul did as directed. He had an excellent handwriting, a point on whichthe merchant set a high value.
The latter surveyed the address with approval, and said, "I am glad youwrite so excellent a hand. It will be of material assistance to you insecuring a place in a counting-room. Indeed, it has been already, for Ihave just thought of a place which I can obtain for you."
"Can you, sir?" said Paul, eagerly.
br /> "Where is it?"
"In my own counting-room," said Mr. Danforth, smiling.
"I am very much obliged to you," said Paul, hardly believing his ears.
"I was prepared to give it to you when you came in, in case I found youqualified. The superiority of your handwriting decides me. When can youcome?"
"To-morrow, if you like, sir."
"I like your promptness. As it is the middle of the week, however, youmay take a vacation till Monday. Your salary will begin to-morrow."
"Thank you, sir."
"I will give you five dollars per week at first, and more as yourservices become more valuable. Will that be satisfactory?"
"I shall feel rich, sir. Mr. Smith only gave me a dollar and a quarter."
"I hope you will find other differences between me and Mr. Smith," saidthe merchant, smiling.
These preliminaries over, Mr. Danforth opened the door, and glancingat Dawkins, said, "Dawkins, I wish you to become acquainted with yourfellow clerk, Paul Prescott."
Dawkins looked surprised, and anything but gratified as he respondedstiffly, "I have the honor of being already acquainted with Mr.Prescott."
"He is a little jealous of an interloper," thought Mr. Danforth,noticing the repellent manner of young Dawkins. "Never mind, they willget acquainted after awhile."
When George Dawkins went home to dinner, his father observed thedissatisfied look he wore.
"Is anything amiss, my son?" he inquired.
"I should think there was," grumbled his son.
"What is it?"
"We've got a new clerk, and who do you think it is?"
"Who is it?"
"The adopted son of old Cameron, the sexton."
"Indeed," said Mrs. Dawkins. "I really wonder at Mr. Danforth's badtaste. There are many boys of genteel family, who would have been gladof the chance. This boy is a low fellow of course."
"Certainly," said her son, though he was quite aware that this was nottrue.
"What could have brought the boy to Danforth's notice?" asked Dawkins,senior.
"I don't know, I'm sure. The boy has managed to get round him in someway. He is very artful."
"I really think, husband, that you ought to remonstrate with Mr.Danforth about taking such a low fellow into his counting-room with ourGeorge."
"Pooh!" said Mr. Dawkins, who was a shade more sensible than his wife,"he'd think me a meddler."
"At any rate, George," pursued his mother, "there's one thing that isdue to your family and bringing up,--not to associate with this lowfellow any more than business requires."
"I certainly shall not," said George, promptly.
He was the worthy son of such a mother.