"No, sir; he said he should have to take down the cottage, and he only offered eight hundred dollars. Mother would have sold for a thousand."
"Tell her not to accept even that offer, but to hold on to the property. Some day she can obtain considerably more."
"She won't sell unless she is obliged to," replied Luke. "A few days since I thought we might have to do it. Now, with the generous sum which you allow for your little girl's board there will be no necessity."
"Has Squire Duncan broached the subject to your mother?"
"He mentioned it one day, but he wanted her to sell for seven hundred dollars."
"He is evidently sharp at a bargain."
"Yes, sir; he is not considered liberal."
There was one thing that troubled Luke in spite of the pleasure he anticipated from his visit to New York. He knew very well that his clothes were shabby, and he shrank from the idea of appearing on Broadway in a patched suit too small for him. But he had never breathed a word of complaint to his mother, knowing that she could not afford to buy him another suit, and he did not wish to add to her troubles. It might have happened that occasionally he fixed a troubled look on his clothes, but if Roland Reed noticed it he did not make any comment.
But when they reached New York, and found themselves on Broadway, his companion paused in front of a large clothing store with large plate-glass windows, and said, quietly: "Come in, Luke. I think you need some new clothes."
Luke's face flushed with pleasure, but he said, "I have no money, Mr. Reed."