"I won't have much of my four dollars left if I have to pay for lunch," he said in a surly tone.
"You shall have a reasonable allowance for that purpose."
"I suppose Mr. Barclay will lunch at home," said Mrs. Hill.
"Certainly, since his work will be here. He is to be my home clerk, and will keep my accounts."
"You needn't have gone out of the house for a clerk, Cousin Hamilton. I am sure Conrad would have been glad of the work."
"It will be better for Conrad to learn business in a larger establishment," said Mrs. Hamilton quietly.
This was a new way of looking at it, and helped to reconcile Mrs. Hill to an arrangement which at first had disappointed her.
"Have you any engagements this afternoon, Conrad?" asked Mrs. Hamilton. "Ben will have nothing to do, and you could show him the city."
"I've got an engagement with a fellow," said Conrad hastily.
"I can find my way about alone, thank you," said Ben. "I won't trouble Conrad."