I shall soon enough be without a home."

"But it will be very lonely for you," objected Frank.

"No; I shall have my thoughts for company. When I am alone I can think
best of my future plans."

"Won't you come to our house to meals, then?"

"Thank you, Frank! I will do that."

"When is the auction to be?"

"To-day is Monday. It is appointed for Thursday."

"I hope there will be something left for you."

"There will be about enough left to pay my father's small debts and his
funeral expenses. I would not like to have him indebted to others for
those. I don't think there will be anything over."

Frank looked perplexed.

"I am sorry for you, Phil," he said. "I wish we were rich, instead of
having hard work to make both ends meet. You would not lack for anything
then."

"Dear Frank," said Philip earnestly, "I never doubted your true
friendship. But I am not afraid that I shall suffer. I am sure I can
earn my living."

"But why do you shut yourself up alone, Philip?" asked Frank, not
satisfied to leave his friend in what he considered the gloomy solitude
of a house just visited by death.

"I want to look over my father's papers. I may find out something that
I ought to know, and after the auction it will be too late. Father had
some directions to give me, but he did not live long enough to do it.
For three days I have the house to myself. After that I shall perhaps
never visit it again."

"Don't be downhearted, Philip," said Frank, pressing his hand with
boyish sympathy.

"I don't mean to be, Frank. I am naturally cheerful and hopeful. I shall
miss my poor father sadly: but grieving will not bring him back. I must
work for my living, and as I have no money to depend upon, I cannot
afford to lose any time in forming my plans."

"You will come over to our house and take your meals!"

"Yes, Frank."

Frank Dunbar's father was a small farmer, who, as Frank had said, found
it hard work to make both ends meet. Among all the village boys, he
was the one whom Philip liked best, though there were many others whose
fathers were in hotter circumstances. For this, however, Philip cared
little. Rich or poor, Frank suited him, and they had always been known
as chums, to adopt the term used by the boys in the village.

It may be thought that as Philip's circumstances were no better, such
an intimacy was natural enough. But Philip Gray possessed special gifts,
which made his company sought after. He was a fine singer