"No, miss. I came from the small town of Hampton."
"Where are you staying?"
"Nowhere. I only arrived in the city this morning."
"Will you be able to go by the next steamer?"
Ben hesitated. It almost took away his breath—it seemed so sudden-but he reflected that there really was no reason why he should not, and he answered in the affirmative.
"Then go back with me, and I will engage passage for us both."
The young lady and Ben reentered the office, Tom Cooper looking on with astonishment. She approached the counter, this time with confidence, and the agent came forward.
"I have concluded to engage passage for myself and this lad," she said.
The agent regarded her with surprise.
"Both first-class?" he asked.