Mr. Weston had engaged a private dining-room, in order that his guests might feel more at their ease if they were alone than if they went into the public dining-room. The boys and Nelly seated themselves at the table with as much solemnity as if they were participating in some very important ceremony, opening their eyes wide with astonishment as the waiter brought on the different courses, but never neglecting to do full justice to everything that was set before them.
Mr. Weston did all he could to make the dinner seem less formal; but he did not succeed until after the roast chickens were put on the table and the servant left the room. Then, when they were alone, and with three whole chickens before them, their tongues seemed suddenly to have been loosened, and they talked as fast as the most fun-loving host could have asked for, until each one’s plate was piled high with chicken and vegetables, when they relapsed again into silent activity.
That visit, and more especially that dinner, was a new experience in their lives, and one which they could never forget. They ate until it seemed impossible they could eat any more, and even then Dickey succeeded in disposing of an extra piece of pie, together with some nuts and raisins. After the meal was ended, and before they started out again to take one more look at all that was strange around them, Mr. Weston said, as he handed Dickey and Mopsey each five dollars, and Nelly ten,
“I want to return to some of you the money you paid for Paul’s railroad ticket. Nelly has her mother’s share as well as her own.”
“But we didn’t pay so much as this,” said Dickey, in evident perplexity. “It only cost fourteen dollars in all.”
“That comes near enough to the amount,” replied Mr. Weston, “and you will oblige me by thinking that you have simply had returned to you the money you paid out. As for Ben and Johnny, who took charge of Paul when he was sadly in need of some one’s care, I have got what I hope will be a pleasant surprise in store for them; and if they will come to the hotel at nine o’clock in the morning, Paul and I will show them what it is.”
There was very little opportunity for any one to make a reply, for as Mr. Weston spoke he arose from the table, and then added,
“Now go and see all that you can until five o’clock, and then we will start for home.”
It was a tired party who landed in New York quite early that evening, some going to Mrs. Green’s and two to the hotel; but they were quite as happy as they were weary, and had had such a day of enjoyment as they had never even dreamed of before, which could be set down to the credit of the kind act of befriending a homeless boy.