“I am very glad,” said Chester, with an air of relief.
He felt now he could do all that was required of him, and, as the contract would pay him two hundred dollars, this success to-night was an important one.
“I won’t ask you to do any more this evening, but I will give you some work to do at home. I believe I agreed to pay you two dollars for each sketch?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Probably you are not over well provided with money, and I will pay you as you go on. Or, rather, I will give you ten dollars as an advance for future work.”
“Thank you, sir. You are very kind.”
“Only considerate. I have seen the time when a ten-dollar-bill would have been welcome to me. Now, thanks to a wealthy relative, who left me a fortune, I am amply provided for.”
At this moment the study door opened and a bright-looking boy of about fifteen entered.
“May I come in, uncle?” he asked, with a smile.
“Yes. Chester, this is my nephew, Arthur Burks. Arthur, this is Chester Rand, a young artist, who is assisting me.”