“Are you in a business position, Mr. Brent?” asked Mrs. Pitkin.

“No, madam.  I was looking for a place this morning.”

“Have you lived for some time in the city?”

“No; I came here only yesterday from the country.”

“I think country boys are very foolish to leave good homes in the country to seek places in the city,” said Mrs. Pitkin sharply.

“There may be circumstances, Lavinia, that make it advisable,” suggested Mr. Carter, who, however, did not know Phil’s reason for coming.

“No doubt; I understand that,” answered Mrs. Pitkin, in a tone so significant that Phil wondered whether she thought he had got into any trouble at home.

“And besides, we can’t judge for every one.  So I hope Master Philip may find some good and satisfactory opening, now that he has reached the city.”

After a short time, lunch, which in New York is generally a plain meal, was over, and Mr. Carter invited Philip to come up-stairs again.

“I want to talk over your prospects, Philip,” he said.

There was silence till after the two had left the room.  Then Mrs. Pitkin said: 

“Alonzo, I don’t like this.”

“What don’t you like, ma?”

“Uncle bringing this boy home.  It is very extraordinary, this sudden interest in a perfect stranger.”

“Do you think he’ll leave him any money?” asked Alonzo, betraying interest.

“I don’t know what it may lead to, Lonny, but it don’t look right.  Such things have been known.”

“I’d like to punch the boy’s head,” remarked Alonzo, with sudden hostility.  “All uncle’s money ought to come to us.”

“So it ought, by rights,” observed his mother.

“We must see that this boy doesn’t get any ascendency over him.”

Phil would have been very much amazed if he had overheard this conversation.

CHAPTER IX.

The old gentleman proves A friend.

The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

“I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

“Yes, sir; since my father’s death it has not been a home to me.”

“Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

“Yes, sir.”

“Any one else?”

“She has a son.”

“And you two don’t agree?”

“You seem to know all about it, sir,” said Phil, surprised.

“I know something of the world—­that is all.”

Phil began to think that Mr. Carter’s knowledge of the world was very remarkable.  He began to wonder whether he could know anything more—­could suspect the secret which Mrs. Brent had communicated to him.  Should he speak of it?  He decided at any rate to wait, for Mr. Carter, though kind, was a comparative stranger.