“It’s a great deal better blacking boots than being idle, in my opinion,” said Grant.

“That’s the way I look at it.  But you didn’t tell me what you came to the city for?”

“I’m coming here for good,” announced Grant.

“You haven’t got a place, have you?” ejaculated Tom, in surprise.

“Yes, I am to enter the office of Mr. Reynolds, a stock broker.  There is his sign.”

“You don’t say so I. Why, that’s just the sort of place I wanted.  How did you get the chance?”

“I got acquainted with Mr. Reynolds on board the cars that day we came to New York together.”

“And you asked him for the place?”

“I asked him this morning.”

“You might have given me the chance,” grumbled Tom, enviously.  “You knew it was the sort of place I was after.”

“I don’t think I was called upon to do that,” said Grant, smiling.  “Besides, he wouldn’t have accepted you.”

“Why not?  Ain’t I as smart as you, I’d like to know?” retorted Tom Calder, angrily.

“He heard us talking in the cars, and didn’t like what you said.”

“What did I say?”

“He doesn’t approve of boys smoking cigarettes and going to bucket shops.  You spoke of both.”

“How did he hear?”

“He was sitting just behind us.”

“Was it that old chap that was sittin’ with you when I came back from the smoking car?”

“Yes.”

“Just my luck,” said Tom, ruefully.

“When are you goin’ to work?” asked Tom, after a pause.

“Next Monday.”

“Where are you going to board?  We might take a room together, you know.  It would be kind of social, as we both come from the same place.”

It did not occur to Grant that the arrangement would suit him at all, but he did not think it necessary to say so.  He only said:  “I am going to Mr. Reynolds’ house, just at first.”

“You don’t say so!  Why, he’s taken a regular fancy to you.”

“If he has, I hope he won’t get over it.”

“I suppose he lives in a handsome brownstone house uptown.”

“Very likely; I’ve never seen the house.”

“Well, some folks has luck, but I ain’t one of ’em,” grumbled Tom.

“Your luck is coming, I hope, Tom.”

“I wish it would come pretty soon, then; I say, suppose your folks won’t let you take the place?” he asked, suddenly, brightening up.

“They won’t oppose it.”  “I thought they wanted you to go to college.”

“I can’t afford it.  It would take too long before I could earn anything, and I ought to be helping the family.”

“I’m goin’ to look out for number one,” said Tom, shrugging his shoulders.  “That’s all I can do.”

Tom’s mother was a hard-working woman, and had taken in washing for years.  But for her the family would often have lacked for food.  His father was a lazy, intemperate man, who had no pride of manhood, and cared only for himself.  In this respect Tom was like him, though the son had not as yet become intemperate.