you are," she added, with sudden recollection.

"A cash-boy from my own place? What's his name?"

"Fowler, I believe."

"I know him--he's lately come. How did he get in with the old man?"

"Mr. Wharton fell in the street, and he happened to be near, and helped
him home."

"You'll have to manage it, aunt."

"I'll see what I can do to-morrow. He ought to prefer my nephew to a
strange boy, seeing I have been twenty years in his service. I'll let
you know as soon as I have accomplished anything."

"I don't half like the idea of giving up my evenings. I don't believe I
can stand it."

"It is only for a little while, to get him interested in you."

"Maybe I might try it a week, and then tell him my health was failing,
and get him to do something else for me."

"At any rate, the first thing must be to become acquainted."

Thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spending an evening with his
aunt, the richer by five dollars, half of which was spent before the
evening closed at a neighboring billiard saloon.