CHAPTER XXV.
MR. TALBOT'S RETURN.
"Jimmy," said Paul, on reaching home, "there is a gentleman coming tosee you this evening."
"A gentleman--to see me?" repeated the little boy, in surprise.
"Yes. Mr. Henderson."
"But I don't know him."
"You will know him very soon. He is an artist, and is going to giveyou lessons."
"How good you are, Paul!" said Jimmy, joyfully; "but," he added,considerately, "won't you have to pay him a good deal?"
"No; he is a poor man, and it is partly to help him that I haveengaged him to give you lessons. I expect him in an hour. So get outyour best drawings, so that he will see how far you are advanced."
"Does he paint pictures? I should like to see some of them."
"I have one with me."
"Oh, let me see it!"
Paul removed the paper from the painting he had brought with him, anddisplayed it to his little brother.
"It is beautiful, Paul. I wonder if I can ever paint such a nicepicture."
"No doubt you can, if you study faithfully. I brought away another ofMr. Henderson's pictures, which I like better than this, but I havesold it to Mr. Preston."
"How much did you get for it?"
"Fifty dollars."
"Isn't that a large price?" asked Mrs. Hoffman.
"Not for a good picture. I dare say Jimmy will by and by be chargingas much as that for a picture."
"I hope so, Paul. I would like to earn some money."
"You are too young to earn money now, Jimmy. That will come in goodtime."
Soon after the supper table was cleared Mr. Henderson called.
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Henderson," said Paul, cordially. "This ismy mother, Mrs. Hoffman, and here is the young scholar I told you of."
Jimmy looked up shyly.
"He has seen your picture and likes it. By the way, I have sold one ofyour pictures--the one introducing the children."
"Thank you for your kindness," said the artist, his face brightening."You have done what I could not do, and it will give me very welcomeaid."
"I hope the price will be satisfactory," said Paul.
"I did not expect much," said Mr. Henderson, who inferred that theprice obtained was small. "I am unknown, and I have no right to expectmuch for my work."
"I sold it to a friend of mine for fifty dollars," continued Paul.
"Fifty dollars!" exclaimed the poor artist, hardly crediting thetestimony of his ears.
"Yes," said Paul, enjoying his surprise. "Is it satisfactory?"
"Satisfactory! It is ten times as much as I expected. How can I everthank you?" said Mr. Henderson, seizing Paul's hand in his ferventgratitude.
"The purchaser is rich, and he has promised to speak a word to Goupilin your favor."
"Heaven sent you to my help," said the artist. "What a change has asingle day wrought! This morning I woke without a penny, and my poorchild without bread. To-night I am rich, and Hope has once morevisited me. I owe all my good fortune to you. Will you permit me togive lessons to your brother without charge?"
"No," said Paul, decidedly. "I think every one ought to be paid fortheir work. What I have done for you has given me very little trouble.I am glad that I could help you. I know what it is to be poor, andmost people would call me poor now; but I can earn enough for ourexpenses, and lay up something besides, so I do not feel poor. Now,Jimmy, go and bring your drawings, and show the gentleman."
The drawings were brought, and, to Jimmy's delight, elicited warmapproval from the artist.
"Your brother has great talent," said he. "I shall be very glad tohave him for a pupil. It is much pleasanter to teach where the scholarhas taste and talent. When would you like the lessons to begin?"
"As soon as possible. To-morrow, if you can come."
"And at what time?"
"At any time. I suppose the day would be better."
"Yes, it would be better, on account of the light. Besides, I like tobe with my little daughter in the evening."
"Have you a little daughter?" asked Mrs. Hoffman.
"Yes, madam. She must be nearly the age of my young pupil here."
"Bring her with you at any time," said motherly Mrs. Hoffman. "I shallbe glad to have her come."
"If she would not be in the way."
"Not at all. We have plenty of room, and Jimmy has no playmate. Weshall be very glad to see her."
"Mary will enjoy coming," said her father. "I appreciate your kindnessin inviting her."
"By the way, Mr. Henderson," suggested Paul, "why don't you move intothe upper part of the city? It will be more convenient for you,especially if you get other pupils."
"It is a good plan," said the artist. "I could not do so before,because I had no money. Now, thanks to your kindness, I can do so."
It was arranged that Jimmy should take two lessons a week, for whichPaul agreed to pay a dollar each. The sum was small, but to Mr.Henderson it was an important help. I will anticipate the future sofar as to say that, after a while, through the persistent efforts ofPaul, aided by Mr. Preston, he obtained three other pupils, from whomhe was able to obtain a higher price, and occasionally he effected thesale of a picture, so that he was able to occupy more comfortablerooms, and provide himself with better clothing. The days of hisadversity were over, and he now enjoyed a moderate degree ofprosperity. Little Mary regained her lost flesh and color, and oncemore looked as she did when she sat for the figure of the girl in herfather's picture, which Paul had sold to Mr. Preston. She came oftenwith her father, when he was to give a lesson to Jimmy, and sometimesMrs. Hoffman called to invite her to accompany Jimmy and herself toCentral Park.
As to Jimmy, he surprised his teacher by the rapid progress which hemade. He would have devoted all his time to drawing if his mother hadpermitted, but she was not willing that he should neglect his schoolstudies--for Jimmy now attended school. His health, too, had improved,and he no longer looked weak and delicate.
So several months passed away. Paul's business continued good. It didnot increase much, for there was not an opportunity for that. But heaveraged fifteen dollars a week profit, and that, he justly felt, wasa very good income from such a limited business. Mrs. Hoffmancontinued to make ties for Paul, so she, too, earned three or fourdollars a week, and as they had no house rent to pay, they were ablenot only to live very comfortably, paying all the bills promptly, butto save up money besides. In addition to the money in Mr. Preston'shands, Paul had an account at a downtown savings-bank, which alreadyamounted to over two hundred dollars.
"We must save money now, mother," said Paul; "for Mr. Talbot will becoming home by and by, and then we shall have to look up other rooms,and pay rent."
"Do you know when he means to come home? Has Mr. Preston told you?"
"No, mother. I think I will call round in the morning and inquire. Hehas already been away more than a year."
When Paul entered Mr. Preston's counting-room the next morning thatgentleman looked up from his desk, and said, "I was just about towrite you a letter, Paul."
"Indeed, sir."
"Yes; I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. Talbot, in which heannounces his immediate return home. He will be here in four weeks,and he desires your mother to engage women to clean the housethoroughly, and put it in order for his occupation. Of course, youwill keep an account of all you have to expend in this way, and youcan hand me the bill."
"Yes, sir. I will see that it is done."
Paul heard, with some regret, of Mr. Talbot's speedy return. It wouldcurtail his income considerably. Still he felt that Mr. Talbot wouldbe satisfied with the manner in which his mother and himself hadacquitted themselves of their trust, and that was a source ofsatisfaction.
He gave his mother immediate notice of the approaching return of Mr.Talbot, and she began to look about for rooms to which to remove. Atlength she found a very comfortable place at twenty dollars a month.Half that sum would have obtained them shelter in a p
oor tenementhouse, but both Paul and his mother had become fastidious, and feltthat such economy would be out of place. They must have a respectableand comfortable home, even if they were prevented thereby from addingso much to their account at the savings-bank.
At length the steamer in which the Talbots had taken passage arrived.A coach brought them from the pier to the house. Mrs. Hoffman and Paulwere in waiting to receive them. Mrs. Talbot expressed herself pleasedwith the neat appearance of the house, and Mr. Talbot called Paulaside.
"My young friend," he said, "I deferred, till my return home, theacknowledgment of your very creditable conduct in the defense of myhouse. You showed a coolness and good judgment remarkable in one ofyour age. In return for this, and in acknowledgment of the generallysatisfactory manner in which you and your mother have kept my house, Iask your acceptance of this pocketbook, with its contents."
When Paul opened it he was astonished and delighted to find that itcontained two one-hundred dollar bills.
"One of them properly belongs to you, mother," he said. But Mrs.Hoffman refused to take it.
"No, Paul," she said, "you are the treasurer of our little household.Take this money and add to your savings. Some time you will find ituseful in enlarging your business, or entering upon a new one."
"I will put it in the savings-bank, as you recommend, mother; but youmust remember that the fund there is yours as much as mine."
"I will promise to call for money, Paul, whenever I want it. I like tothink that we have so large a fund to draw upon in case of need."