It so happened that the Charleston boat was just in, and the passengers were just landing.

Phil stood on the pier and gazed listlessly at them as they disembarked.

All at once he started in surprise, and his heart beat joyfully.

There, just descending the gang-plank, was his tried friend, Mr. Oliver Carter, whom he supposed over a thousand miles away in Florida.

“Mr. Carter!” exclaimed Phil, dashing forward.

“Philip!” exclaimed the old gentleman, much surprised.  “How came you here?  Did Mr. Pitkin send you?”

CHAPTER XXIII.

An explanation.

It would be hard to tell which of the two was the more surprised at the meeting, Philip or Mr. Carter.

“I don’t understand how Mr. Pitkin came to hear of my return.  I didn’t telegraph,” said the old gentleman.

“I don’t think he knows anything about it,” said Phil.

“Didn’t he send you to the pier?”

“No, sir.”

“Then how is it that you are not in the store at this time?” asked Mr. Carter, puzzled.

“Because I am no longer in Mr. Pitkin’s employ.  I was discharged last Saturday.”

“Discharged!  What for?”

“Mr. Pitkin gave no reason.  He said my services were no longer required.  He spoke roughly to me, and has since declined to give me a recommendation, though I told him that without it I should be unable to secure employment elsewhere.”

Mr. Carter frowned.  He was evidently annoyed and indignant.

“This must be inquired into,” he said.  “Philip, call a carriage, and I will at once go to the Astor House and take a room.  I had intended to go at once to Mr. Pitkin’s, but I shall not do so until I have had an explanation of this outrageous piece of business.”

Phil was rejoiced to hear this, for he was at the end of his resources, and the outlook for him was decidedly gloomy.  He had about made up his mind to sink his pride and go into business as a newsboy the next day, but the very unexpected arrival of Mr. Carter put quite a new face on matters.

He called a carriage, and both he and Mr. Carter entered it.

“How do you happen to be back so soon, sir?” asked Phil, when they were seated.  “I thought you were going to Florida for a couple of months.”

“I started with that intention, but on reaching Charleston I changed my mind.  I expected to find some friends at St. Augustine, but I learned that they were already returning to the North, and I felt that I should be lonely and decided to return.  I am very glad I did, now.  Did you receive my letter?”

“Your letter?” queried Philip, looking at Mr. Carter in surprise.

“Certainly.  I gave Alonzo a letter for you, which I had directed to your boarding-house, and requested him to mail it.  It contained a ten-dollar bill.”

“I never received any such letter, sir.  It would have been of great service to me—­the money, I mean; for I have found it hard to live on five dollars a week.  Now I have not even that.”