“Will you have roast beef or roast lamb?” she asked of Sam.
“Beef for me,” answered Sam. “What will you have, Joshua?”
“The same,” said Joshua.
I suppose it is useless to say that Mrs. Jones did not keep a first-class boarding house. The fare she furnished to her boarders was considerably inferior to that at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, or a good many other hotels of lower standing; but this was a point in which Joshua was not likely to be disappointed. His father, as has been explained in the preceding volume, was a man so fond of money that he always furnished a very mean table, and neither he nor any of his family had ever been in danger of gout or dyspepsia. So to Joshua the fare at Mrs. Jones’ boarding house seemed excellent. His wanderings had given him quite an appetite, and he did substantial justice to the food before him.
When they rose from the table Mrs. Jones said, “I will come upstairs immediately, Mr. Crawford, and show you and your friend the large room next to yours.”
“Well, Joshua, how do you like the feed?” asked Sam, as they were going upstairs.
“It’s very good,” answered Joshua, in a tone of satisfaction. “Do you always have as good a dinner?”
“Yes, always. On Sundays we have something extra.”
“I think I shall like it. How much does Mrs. Jones charge for board?”
“For room and board, six dollars.”