“If the lady wants to let me have it at three dollars and a half——”
“She does! Hasn’t she said so? You said three and a half, didn’t you, Mrs. Magoon?”
“I did not!”
“No? My fault! But you’re going to, eh? Rather than lose a tenant?” Mrs. Magoon wavered. “Here it is the last day, ma’am. School begins tomorrow. I guess everyone’s settled by this time. You wouldn’t want the room to stay empty, now would you? Of course not! A bird in the hand, and all that, eh? Well, that’s settled, what?”
Mrs. Magoon nodded without enthusiasm. “It’s less than I ever took for it before,” she said sadly. Then, brightening: “Maybe the young man would want his breakfasts in?” she asked hopefully. “Many of them does.”
Johnston was shaking his head violently, but neither the landlady nor Ira saw it.
“Why, thanks, I—How much are breakfasts?” said Ira.
“Twenty-five cents, sir. Coffee and toast and two eggs or a bit of meat.”
“Perhaps it would be more convenient than going out,” mused Ira. “All right, ma’am, I’ll take breakfasts.”