“Now, Hector, you can have a room to yourself, or you may share my den,” said Walter.

“I would rather share the den,” said Hector.

“That’s what I hoped.  You see, we shall have ever so much to say to each other.  We haven’t seen each other for over a year.”

A slight shade of gravity overspread Hector’s face.  Since he had met his friend, his father had died, and he had been reduced from the heir of wealth to a penniless orphan.  Of this last change Walter knew nothing, but Hector did not mean long to leave him in ignorance.

At dinner the two newcomers saw Mr. Ross, from whom they received a friendly welcome.  The usher was put at his ease at once.

“I hope you’ll get along with my boy,” said the bluff city merchant.  “Of one thing you may be assured, your scholarship won’t be severely taxed in educating him.  Walter is a pretty good boy, but he isn’t a prodigy of learning.”

“I may be some day, father,” said Walter, “with Mr. Crabb’s help.”

“I take it Mr. Crabb isn’t able to perform miracles,” said Mr. Ross, good-humoredly.  “No, Mr. Crabb, I shan’t expect too much of you.  Get your pupil on moderately fast, and I shall be satisfied.  I am glad, Hector, that you were able to pay Walter a visit at this time.”

“So am I, sir.”

“I thought you might not be able to leave your studies.”

“I have given up study, sir.”

“I am surprised at that, Hector.  I thought you contemplated going to college.”

“So I did, sir, but circumstances have changed my plans.”

“Indeed!”

“Yes, sir; I will explain after dinner, and will ask your advice.”

Mr. Ross dropped the subject, and after dinner led the way to the library, where he sank into an armchair, and, breathing a sigh of satisfaction, said:  “This, Mr. Crabb, is the most enjoyable part of the twenty-four hours for me.  I dismiss business cares and perplexities, and read my evening paper, or some new book, in comfort.”

As the usher looked about him and saw costly books, engravings, furniture and pictures, he could well understand that in such surroundings the merchant could take solid comfort.  It was a most agreeable contrast to the plain and poverty-stricken room at Smith Institute, where the boys pursued their evening studies under his superintendence.

“Well, Hector, so you don’t propose to go back to school,” said the merchant.  “Isn’t that rather a sudden resolution?”

“Yes, sir; but, as I said, circumstances have changed.”

“What circumstances?  Because you are rich, you don’t think you ought to be idle, I hope?”

“Oh, no, sir.  It is because I have discovered that I am not rich.”

“Not rich!  I always understood that your father left a large estate,” said Mr. Ross, in surprise.

“So he did, sir.”

“Didn’t it descend to you?”

“I thought so till recently.”