isfactory conversation.

"I hope you are satisfied with my management, Mrs. Hamilton?" said our
hero.

"You have done wonderfully, Ben. Through you I am the richer by
thirty-five thousand dollars at the very least, for the farm would
have been dear at five thousand, whereas it was sold for forty
thousand."

"I am very glad you are satisfied."

"You shall have reason to be glad. I intend to pay you a commission
for selling the place."

"Thank you," said Ben joyfully.

He thought it possible Mrs. Hamilton might give him fifty dollars, and
this would have been very welcome.

"Under the circumstances, I shall allow you an extra commission--say
10 per cent. How much will 10 per cent. amount to on forty
thousand dollars?"

"Four thousand," answered Ben mechanically.

"Consider yourself worth fourth thousand dollars, then."

"But this is too much, Mrs. Hamilton," said Ben, scarcely crediting
his good fortune.

"Then give half of it to your mother," said Mrs. Hamilton, smiling.

"Now we can pay off the mortgage!" exclaimed Ben, joyfully.

"What mortgage?"

Ben told the story, and it aroused the lively sympathy of his
patroness.

"As soon as the purchase money is paid," she said, "you shall have you
commission, and sooner if it is needed."

CHAPTER XXXVI
A LETTER FROM ROSE GARDINER

Ben resumed his place as the secretary and confidential clerk of Mrs.
Hamilton. He found his position more agreeable when Mrs. Hill and
Conrad were fairly out of the house. In place of the first a
pleasant-faced German woman was engaged, and there were no more sour
looks and sneering words.

Of course Ben kept up a weekly correspondence with his mother. He did
not tell her the extent of his good fortune--he wished that to be a
surprise, when the time came. From his mother, too, he received
weekly letters, telling him not unfrequently how she missed him,
though she was glad he was doing so well.

One day beside his mother's letter was another. He did not know the
handwriting, but, looking eagerly to the end, he saw the name of Rose
Gardiner.

"What would Rose say," Ben asked himself, "if she knew that I am worth
four thousand dollars?"

The money had been paid to Ben, and was deposited in four different
savings banks, till he could decide on a better investment. So he was
quite sure of having more than enough to pay off the mortgage and
redeem the cottage.

"Since mother is worrying, I must write and s