.
We could go to a public house in the train of Mr. Macombe and his lady,
and would appear to be a part of his family.

Besides this manifest advantage, I had learned all about the steamers
that went to England, and had actually made the acquaintance of a
gentleman who was going to London, and who was quite willing to be my
friend. If Tom Thornton would keep out of my path till the following
Wednesday, I should embark in the steamer, and be on my way across the
ocean to find my mother.

Half a dozen people offered to assist Kate, when the boat hauled in at
her wharf, and the steward was all kindness and attention. We took a
carriage, and drove to the hotel, whose name I have forgotten; but the
window of my chamber looked out upon the Battery. As soon as we were
comfortably installed in our several apartments, I went to the office
and found a Directory. It contained the names of four men whose surname
was Loraine. I looked a few years later and there was not a single one.
Two of them were merchants, one was a broker, and one was a mason.
Nothing was to be learned from their occupation, and as it was too late
to find the owners of the names and their places of business that day, I
was obliged to defer the search till Monday.

I had left my uncle's without any clothing except that which I wore; and
if I was not in absolute need yet of an additional wardrobe, I knew
enough of the world to believe that a quantity of baggage adds to a
person's respectability, especially at the hotels. I walked up Broadway,
and purchased a good-sized valise, a strong and serviceable article,
which would contain all I should need in my travels. At a clothing store
I bought a good every-day suit, for that I wore was a very nice one--too
good for comfort in travelling. At a furnishing store I procured a
supply of shirts, collars, and handkerchiefs. When I had packed all
these articles in my valise, I felt quite respectable.

As I was walking back to the hotel, I saw in the window of a shop an
article which was labelled "money-belt." It was a kind of pocket-book,
made of wash-leather, attached to a belt to be worn round the body. I
went in and bought one; and it seemed to solve the problem about the
care of the large sum of money in my possession, which had been a great
trouble to me. I could carry my funds in this belt without the danger of
being robbed; and as soon as I reached my room, I enclosed in a piece of
oiled silk the greater part of