ing else occur to me, I will mention it to you on Tuesday when
you come here permanently."

Paul and his mother took their leave. When they were in the street,
Paul inquired:

"Well, mother, what do you think of Mrs. Talbot?"

"I like her very much. She seems to be a real lady."

"So I think. She seems to be very kind and considerate."

"We are very fortunate to get so good a home and save the entire
rent."

"It will save us two hundred and forty dollars a year."

"We shall be able to save up considerable money every year."

"But there's one thing I want to say, mother. As we are in so much
better circumstances, there will be no need of your working on
neckties any more."

"Are you going to discharge me from your employment, Paul?" said his
mother, smiling.

"Not unless you are willing, mother; but you will have enough to do
looking after the house."

"I would rather keep on making neckties. It is a work that I like. In
return I will hire my washing done, and all the rougher work."

"Perhaps that will be better," said Paul; "but you can do both if you
like."

"I don't mean to lead an idle life, Paul. I should not feel happy if I
did. I was always fond of sewing--that is, in moderation. When I made
shirts for that establishment in Broadway, for such low prices, I
cannot say that I enjoyed that very much. I am glad to be relieved of
such work, though at that time I was glad to get it."

"Those days have gone by forever, I hope, mother. I am young and
strong, and I don't see why there isn't as good a chance for me to
succeed as for other poor boys who have risen to wealth and eminence.
I am going to work for success, at any rate. But we shall have to make
some purchases before Tuesday."

"What kind of purchases?"

"Jimmy and I are out of clothes, you know. My entire wardrobe has been
consumed by the devouring element, as the reporters say. Now, being a
young man of fashion, I don't quite like being reduced to one suit and
one shirt, with other things in proportion."

"If you could wait, I would make you some shirts."

"But I can't wait. I shouldn't feel like wearing the shirt I have on
more than a fortnight."

"I hope not," said his mother, smiling.

"Suppose I should be invited to a party and be obliged to decline with
thanks, on account of having only one shirt. My reputation as a young
man of fashion would be gone forever."

"So I should think."

"To-morrow I will buy a couple of shirts, an