Rupert's Ambition. Alger Horatio Jr.
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is, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert, warmly.
Mrs. Rollins was a good deal surprised when Rupert entered the room, followed by a handsomely-dressed young man, and she rose from her seat in some trepidation.
"Mother," said Rupert, "this is Mr. Sylvester, who was kind enough to give us the money and provisions I brought home the other day."
"I am glad to meet so kind a friend," said the widow, with simple dignity. "Ask him to take a seat."
"I came to make you a business proposal," began Mr. Sylvester, who was already favorably impressed with Rupert's mother. "Your son thinks you might be willing to accept the position of housekeeper in my uncle's family, in Rutherford."
Mrs. Rollins instinctively looked towards Grace.
"I see what you are thinking of," interposed her caller. "There will be no difficulty about taking your daughter with you."
"Then I shall be glad to accept. And Rupert–"
"Rupert, I am sure, will prefer to remain in the city. I will find him a place. Till then he can stay with me."
Rupert brightened up at this suggestion. He had no desire to go to the country, but would like nothing more than a place in some city establishment.
"How soon could you arrange to go, Mrs. Rollins?"
"Next Monday."
"That will answer. I will apprise my uncle. Now as to the compensation."
"If I have Grace with me I shall hardly feel justified in asking compensation."
"My uncle would not think of making any account of the little girl's board. I think he paid your predecessor twenty-five dollars a month. Will that be satisfactory?"
"It is very liberal, sir."
"You will allow me to offer you a month's salary in advance. I can settle it with Uncle Ben."
This relieved Mrs. Rollins from a great embarrassment, as she needed to replenish her wardrobe to some extent.
"I will go out with you on Monday, and take Rupert with me, as he will wish to see how his mother and sister are situated."
"How kind you are, Mr. Sylvester!" said Rupert, gratefully.
"Don't give me too much credit, Rupert. You have helped me out of an embarrassment. I expected to have a long hunt for a housekeeper. Thanks to your mother I have escaped all that."
"You don't know how much it means to us, Mr. Sylvester."
"Well, perhaps, I have some idea. It seems a good arrangement for all of us. Well, good morning. Oh, by the way, you meet me at the Astor House to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."
"Yes, sir, with pleasure."
Mrs. Marlow was a very observing woman. She always kept her door ajar, and saw every one who went upstairs. Her curiosity was considerably excited when she saw Rupert's companion.
"My stars!" she said to herself. "What a fine-looking young man! He looks like a real gentleman—I wonder does he know them Rollinses."
Mrs. Marlow would liked to have listened at the door and heard the conversation between her neighbors and the distinguished-looking visitor. But this was not practicable. However, as Mr. Sylvester came down stairs she ventured out and intercepted him.
"Sure, you've been callin' on my friend, Mrs. Rollins," she said.
"Is she a friend of yours?" asked Sylvester, looking at her curiously.
"Indeed she is, and she's a fine lady. But she's been very unfortunate. I would like to have helped her, but I am poor myself, and–"
"Won't you accept this?" said Sylvester, offering her a dollar as the easiest way of getting rid of her.
"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Marlow, with a profound courtesy. "It's easy to see you're a kindhearted man."
"What a curious woman! I should hardly think Mrs. Rollins would have made choice of her as a friend!" soliloquized the young man as he pushed on to the street.
"I wonder what his name is and where he lives," speculated Mrs. Marlow. "He must be the young man that gave the Rollinses the purse and the basket of provisions. If I knew where he lived I'd go and see him often."
There is very little doubt that Mrs. Marlow would have kept her word, but unfortunately she had no clew to the residence of her new acquaintance.
When Rupert came downstairs, she put herself in his way.
"You had a call from a nice gentleman this morning," she said, insinuatingly.
Rupert felt too happy to slight even Mrs. Marlow, and he answered, courteously,
"Yes."
"I hope he brought a present for your mother."
"No, Mrs. Marlow, but he brought something better."
"And what can that be?" asked the widow, with intense curiosity.
"He engaged mother to take a place as housekeeper for a gentleman in the country."
"You don't say! And what'll be done with your sister? I'll board her cheap, and be like a mother to her."
Rupert could not help smiling at the idea of leaving his sister in such hands. He explained that Grace would go with her mother.
"Sure your mother's a lucky woman! I'd like to be a housekeeper myself. Wouldn't you speak to the gentleman for me?"
"I'll mention it if you like."
Rupert could promise this safely, for he would take care that Mr. Sylvester understood the character of their unscrupulous neighbor.
"If you'll do it, Rupert, dear, I'll pay you back the dollar I borrowed the other day, when I get my first week's wages."
"Some folks is lucky!" soliloquized Mrs. Marlow. "The young man ought to have taken me. I'm much stronger than Mrs. Rollins, and I would have made a better housekeeper, but maybe my turn will come next."
CHAPTER VIII.
JULIAN LORIMER
On Monday Rupert saw his mother and sister established at Rutherford. Their new home was a large old-fashioned mansion, exceedingly comfortable. One of the best chambers was assigned to Mrs. Rollins, with a small room opening out of it for Grace.
Benjamin Strathmore was a stout old gentleman of seventy, tall, and patriarchal-looking with his abundant white hair.
"How do you like my selection of housekeeper, Uncle Ben?" asked Sylvester, when he had a chance to be alone with the old gentleman.
"She will just suit me," said Mr. Strathmore, emphatically. "She is evidently a lady, and she will be an agreeable companion if I am not mistaken. Mrs. Martin was a good housekeeper, but she had no idea outside of her duties. I could not chat with her unless I talked about cooking. My evenings were solitary. She spent the time in the kitchen or in her own room. Now the house will be really social."
"I am delighted to have suited you, Uncle Ben."
"Where in the world did you come across Mrs. Rollins? Have you known her long?"
"I became acquainted through her son Rupert, to whom I introduced you."
"He seems a fine, manly boy. He can stay here, too. I will find something for him to do."
"Thank you, Uncle Ben, but I shall find him a place in New York. He prefers the city, and it will afford him more opportunities of advancement. Rupert is ambitious, and I predict that he will rise in time to an excellent position."
"Just as you think best, Frank; but remember that if ever there is need, or he becomes sick, there is room for him here."
To anticipate a little. Mr. Strathmore was not disappointed in Mrs. Rollins. It came to be her custom to spend the evenings with her employer. Sometimes she read aloud to him. At others, while she was engaged in needlework, and Grace, now restored to health, was occupied with her books, the old gentleman sat back in his easy chair, and with calm content watched his companions. He no longer felt his former burden of solitude.
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