"Did he ever board here?"
"No; he boarded at one of the hotels. Mr. Gale is a rich man."
She took the letter and read it.
"Mr. Gale asks if I can take you to board, and offers to pay your board.
He must be a great friend of yours?"
"He is. I hope the arrangement will be satisfactory."
"Quite so. I couldn"t wish any better paymaster than Mr. Gale. Are you going to work in the city?"
"Yes. I have a place in Mr. Flint"s jewelry store on Union Square."
"Really? That is quite a high-toned place. I got my best spoons there."
"Have you got a room for me?" asked Andy, a little anxiously.
"Yes, I"ve got a small hall bedroom. I suppose you didn"t expect a square room?"
"It would be too expensive."
"It wouldn"t be if you had a roommate. There"s a gentleman on the third floor front, a Mr. Warren. He is sickly, and writes for some of the papers. He told me he would like a roommate; but perhaps you would prefer a small room alone?"
"I should."
"Then I"ve a small room on the same floor. It was occupied till last week by a music teacher, but he was three weeks behind in his rent and I had to let him go. It"s a trying business, keeping a boarding house, Mr.--"
"Grant," suggested Andy.
"Yes. That"s a good name. I suppose you"re in nowise related to the general?"
"No; I wish I was."
"If you will follow me upstairs I"ll show you the room. You can bring your valise."
Andy took it in his hand and followed the landlady up two flights of stairs. She panted a little, being a stout lady, but Andy would have run upstairs if he had been alone.
On the upper floor there were three rooms, the doors of all being open.
"That is Mr. Warren"s room," said Mrs. Norris, pointing to the front apartment.
It was a room of about fourteen feet square, and was neatly furnished.
It contained a double bed and the usual chamber furniture.
"It will accommodate two gentlemen nicely," said Mrs. Norris. "Perhaps, after you get acquainted with Mr. Warren, you may strike up a bargain to room with him."
"I don"t think I should like to room with a sickly gentleman."
"Well, there is something in that. One night Mr. Warren had a fit--I don"t know what kind of one--and rolled onto the floor. I room just underneath, and I was very much frightened."
"It would have frightened me, too, if I had roomed with him."
"Well, fits ain"t very pleasant, I allow."
"Who rooms in the third room, next to mine?"
"A young man of eighteen, named Perkins. I don"t rightly know what sort of a place he is in. I think it"s a neckwear store on Spring Street."
Andy was rather glad to learn that there was one boarder somewhere near his own age.
He did not think he should enjoy the acquaintance of Mr. Warren. He was prejudiced against him by the knowledge that he was sickly and had fits.
"There are other boarders on my second floor. You will make their acquaintance at the table."
"What are your hours for meals, Mrs. Norris?"
"We have lunch from twelve to one. Breakfast is from seven to nine, and we have dinner from six to seven, though in the case of a boarder who is kept later by business we stretch a point, and try to accommodate him. I hope that will suit you."
"Oh, I am sure it will."
"Shall you be at lunch to-day?"
"No, I don"t think so. I am going to explore the city a little."
"Very few of my boarders are present at lunch. Still there is a bite for them, if they do come."
"I would like to wash, if you will send up some water and a towel."
"Eva will bring them right up. Have you soap of your own?"
"Yes."
"Gentlemen often prefer providing their own. If you will give me your name in full, I will enter it on my books."
"My name is Andrew Grant."
"Very well."
"What is your rate of board? Mr. Gale will pay it, but I should like to know what it is."
"Five dollars a week for your room. Mr. Warren pays seven, but he has a large room to himself. If you should decide to room with him, I shall charge you five dollars apiece."
"Thank you; I don"t think we shall come to any agreement."
She went downstairs, and Andy surveyed his room with interest.
It was certainly small--quite the narrowest room he had ever seen. There was one window from which he had a view of the back yard, rather a forlorn-looking s.p.a.ce. There was a cat perched on the high, board fence separating the yard from that of the adjoining house.