“Yes; but I don’t believe they’d like it if so much money was wasted.”
“They can’t help theirselves, if you don’t turn up. It ain’t likely they’d think of stayin’ here all night, an’ you’ve got to hustle ’round pretty lively if you want to get away. Come on, I’m goin’ up, an’ after we get into town I reckon Sadie can take you to Baker’s Court.”
“Of course I can,” the match-girl replied confidently; and Josiah, much against his will, allowed himself to be led on board the steamer, even though he believed his friends were yet searching for him on the Island.
This second sea voyage was by no means as enjoyable as the first had been.
Both Josiah and his companion were thoroughly tired, and the latter took advantage of the opportunity to go to sleep almost immediately after boarding the steamer.
Their new acquaintance professed to have important business with some one on the lower deck, and Josiah was left to his own reflections, which were not pleasant.
This last outlay had made serious inroads upon his already sadly depleted capital, and the disagreeable thought came into his mind that it would be necessary for him to return home minus the much-desired gifts.
“Father an’ mother will have to do without anything, I’m afraid. It makes me feel awful mean to go back as if I’d forgotten all about ’em while I was here,” he said to himself. “I oughter sold them woodchuck skins the first thing, an’ then I’d known jest how much they was worth.”
These thoughts naturally led to a desire on Josiah’s part to learn exactly how much cash he had; and partially turning in his seat to prevent those in the immediate vicinity from seeing his movements, he took an account of the stock on hand.
“Here’s only ninety-two cents,” he said, as he returned the coins to his pocket, “an’ seein’s how I’ve got to take the fellers up to that museum, it don’t look as if I’d have very much left to buy things with.”