am not used to this neighborhood and prefer to have an escort."

"I didn't think this morning," said Ben to himself, "that a rich lady
would select me as her escort."

On the whole, he liked it. It gave him a feeling of importance, and a
sense of responsibility which a manly boy always likes.

"I shall be glad to stay with you as long as you like," said Ben.

"Thank you, Benjamin, or shall I say Ben?"

"I wish you would. I hardly know myself when I am called Benjamin."

"As we are walking alone, suppose you tell me something of yourself.
I only know your name, and that you live in Pentonville. What
relations have you?"

"A mother only--my father is dead."

"And you help take care of your mother, I suppose?"

"Yes; father left us nothing except the house we live in, or, at
least, we could get track of no other property. He died in Chicago
suddenly."

"I hope you are getting along comfortably--you and your mother," said
Mrs. Hamilton kindly.

"We have our troubles," answered Ben. "We are in danger of having our