"Philip, I shall not require your company any longer this morning. If you have any plans of your own you are quite at liberty to follow them. Have you all the money you need?"
"Yes, sir; you gave me fifteen dollars yesterday."
"I remember. Very well; you can go where you please. We will meet at the hotel at one o'clock."
"Would you object, Mr. Grafton, to my sending five dollars to my mother? I shall have enough left for myself."
"Do as you like. You may send ten dollars if you like. When you are out of money you have only to apply to me."
"You are very kind, sir," said Ben, gratefully.
"It is on account of your first month's wages, you know."
Then he paused a moment, regarding Ben with some apparent solicitude.
"By the way," he said, "I must guard you against saying too much about me or your relation with me. I have a great dislike to have myself or my affairs talked about."
"I will remember, sir."