"That's 'bout the size of it, Amateur."
During the remainder of the time he spent in Ninety-four's quarters Seth was unusually thoughtful, and immediately his work was finished he asked the driver if there was any objection to his going down-town.
"Now see here, Amateur, there's no call for you to come 'round me with a question like that. I'm only too glad you've got a chance to get a holiday, and I advise you to spend all the time, till the hour for school, among your old chums. I don't reckon you've got any big pile of money left by this time, eh?"
"Well, I don't need a cent, 'cept for my rent, an' that ain't costin' such a terrible pile."
"Have you got enough to buy your breakfast with?"
"I'll get whatever I need."
"See here, Amateur, how much money have you on hand?" 'Lish asked so sternly that Seth could no longer evade the question.
"Well, I'm broke; but there's no need of my havin' a single cent. I ain't doin' much swellin' lately."
"Take this," and the driver thrust a dollar in Seth's hands. "I ain't giving it to you, so there's no call to kick. You've got to borrow it, or go hungry, and that I'm not minded you shall do."
"I haven't done anything of the kind yet a while," the Amateur replied, with a hearty laugh, and then he began to speak of Jip once more lest 'Lish Davis might take it into his head to ask how long he had thus been penniless, for it was nearly a week since he had so much as a nickel in his pocket.