"Ah, no need to say that."
"I am afraid your father will only worry the more if he finds that he is not soon in a condition to work."
"It seems so little to make a portrait for ten dollars," added Mrs. Kent.
"I should only be too glad if I could get all the work I could do at that price."
The new order somewhat cheered the poor artist. Once, in his early days, he was ambitious, and hoped for a reputation; but long since his ambitions had faded, and he was content and glad to work for a bare livelihood.
Even now, he would not have succeeded but for the small help his son was able to give him. Three dollars a week in many an unfortunate household in the metropolis plays an important part in the finances of a poor family.
But a new trial was in store for the Kent family. The next day, just before the store closed, Loammi visited it.
He wanted to ask a favor of his father, and as he walked through the store he looked about him with the air of a prince of the blood royal. It happened that as he passed along he managed to drop his handkerchief. Instead of picking it up himself, he signaled to Harold Kent to do it.