“I’m well,” said Oscar.  “Have you been to California?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem to have made your fortune,” said Oscar superciliously, eying Joe’s shabby clothing.

“I haven’t starved,” said Joe.

“Where did you get that suit of clothes?” asked Oscar.

“I hope you’ll excuse my appearance,” said Joe.

“Well, Joe, do you want to come back to your old place?” asked Major Norton.  “I’ve got a boy, but he doesn’t suit me.”

“How much would you be willing to pay me, Major Norton?”

The major coughed.

“Well,” said he, “I gave you your board and clothes before.  That’s pretty good pay for a boy.”

“I’m older now.”

“I’ll do the same by you, Joe, and give you fifty cents a week besides.”

“Thank you for the offer, Major Norton.  I’ll take till to-morrow to think of it.”

“You’d better accept it now,” said Oscar.  “Beggars shouldn’t be choosers.”

“I am not a beggar, Oscar,” said Joe mildly.

“You look like one, anyway,” said Oscar bluntly.

“Oscar,” said Major Norton, “if Joe has been unlucky, you shouldn’t throw it in his teeth.”

“He went off expecting to make his fortune,” said Oscar, in an exulting tone.  “He looks as if he had made it.  Where are you going?”

“I am going to look about the village a little.  I will call again.”

After Joe went out Oscar said: 

“It does me good to see Joe come in rags.  Serves him right for putting on airs.”

On the main street Joe met Annie Raymond.

“Why, Joe!” she exclaimed, delighted.  “Is it really you?”

“Bad pennies always come back,” said Joe.

“Have you——­ I am afraid you have not been fortunate,” said the young lady, hesitating as she noticed Joe’s shabby clothes.

“Do you think less of me for that?”

“No,” said Annie Raymond warmly.  “It is you I like, not your clothes.  You may have been unfortunate, but I am sure you deserved success.”

“You are a true friend, Miss Annie, so I don’t mind telling you that I was successful.”

Annie Raymond looked astonished.

“And these clothes—­” she began.

“I put on for Oscar Norton’s benefit.  I wanted to see how he would receive me.  He evidently rejoiced at my bad fortune.”

“Oscar is a mean boy.  Joe, you must come to our house to supper.”

“Thank you, I will; but I will go round to the hotel and change my clothes.”

“Never mind.”

“But I do mind.  I don’t fancy a shabby suit as long as I can afford to wear a good one.”

Joe went to the hotel, took off his ragged clothes, put on a new and stylish suit which he recently had made for him, donned a gold watch and chain, and hat in the latest style, and thus dressed, his natural good looks were becomingly set off.