JAMES CARROLL.”
“That is a very kind letter,” thought Herbert, gratefully. “I hope it will do me good.”
He decided to call and deliver it the same forenoon. If he had not been robbed of nearly the whole of his small capital, he would, first, have gone about the city, which was entirely new to him. But, with less than four dollars between himself and utter destitution, he felt that he had no time for sight-seeing. It was necessary that he should get to work as soon as possible.
He waited till ten o'clock, thinking it possible that the heads of the firm might not reach the counting-room till about that time. It was now eight o'clock only. He had two hours, therefore, to look about him.
“Shine yer boots?” said a ragged urchin, approaching, with a suggestive look at his soiled shoes.
It occurred to Herbert that it would be best to look as well as possible when visiting Godfrey.
“Ten cents.”
“It's too much,” said Herbert, thinking how few dimes constituted his entire worldly wealth.
“Well, five, then,” said the bootblack, coming down to his regular price.
“Do you get much to do?” asked our hero.