CHAPTER VII.
THE HOUSE ON MADISON AVENUE.
In the evening, as had been agreed, Paul accompanied his mother uptownto call on Mrs. Talbot and receive directions in regard to the house.They had no difficulty in finding it. On ringing the bell they wereushered into an elegantly furnished parlor, the appearance of whichindicated the wealth of the owner.
"Suppose we give a party, mother, after we move in," said Paul, as hesat on the sofa beside his mother, awaiting the appearance of Mrs.Talbot.
"Mrs. Talbot might have an objection to our using her parlors for sucha purpose."
"I wonder," said Paul reflectively, "whether I shall ever have a houseof my own like this?"
"Not unless your business increases," said his mother, smiling.
"I rather think you are right, mother. Seriously, though, there areplenty of men in New York, who live in style now, who began the worldwith no better advantages than I. You see there is a chance for metoo."
"I shall be satisfied with less," said his mother. "Wealth alone willnot yield happiness."
"Still it is very comfortable to have it."
"No doubt, if it is properly acquired."
"If I am ever rich, mother, you may be sure that I shall not beashamed of the manner in which I became so."
"I hope not, Paul."
Their conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Talbot. Shewas a stout, comely-looking woman of middle age and pleasantexpression.
"I suppose this is Mrs. Hoffman," she said.
Paul and his mother both rose.
"I am Mrs. Hoffman," said the latter. "I suppose I speak to Mrs.Talbot?"
"You are right. Keep your seat, Mrs. Hoffman. Is this your son?"
Paul bowed with instinctive politeness, and his mother replied in theaffirmative.
"Mr. Talbot tells me that you are willing to take charge of the housewhile we are absent in Europe."
"I shall be glad to do so."
"We have been looking out for a suitable family, and as our departurewas so near at hand, were afraid we might not succeed in making asatisfactory arrangement. Fortunately Mr. Preston spoke to my husbandof you, and this sets our anxiety at rest."
"I hope I may be able to answer your expectations, Mrs. Talbot," saidMrs. Hoffman modestly.
"I think you will," said Mrs. Talbot, and she spoke sincerely.
She had examined her visitor attentively, and had been very favorablyimpressed by her neat dress and quiet, lady-like demeanor. She hadbeen afraid, when first informed by her husband of the engagement hehad made, that Mrs. Hoffman might be a coarse, untidy woman, and shewas very agreeably disappointed in her appearance.
"I suppose," she said, "you would like to look over the house."
"Thank you, I should."
"I also wish you to see it, that you may understand my directions inregard to the care of it. Follow me, if you please. We will first godown into the basement."
Mrs. Hoffman rose. Paul kept his seat, not sure whether he wasincluded in the invitation or not.
"Your son can come, too, if he likes," said Mrs. Talbot, observing hishesitation.
Paul rose with alacrity and followed them. He had a natural curiosityto see the rooms they were to occupy.
They descended first into the basement, which was spacious and light.It consisted of three rooms, the one in front quite large andpleasant. It was plainly but comfortably furnished. The kitchen was inthe rear, and there was a middle room between.
"These will be your apartments," said Mrs. Talbot. "Of course I haveno objection to your moving in any of your own furniture, if yourdesire it."
"We have only ourselves to move in," said Paul. "We were burned outearly this week."
"Indeed! You were unfortunate."
"I thought so at the time," said Mrs. Hoffman, "but if it had not beenfor that Paul would not have called upon Mr. Preston and we should nothave heard of you."
"Were you able to save nothing?" asked Mrs. Talbot.
"Scarcely anything."
"If you are embarrassed for want of money," suggested Mrs. Talbotkindly, "I will advance you fifty dollars, or more if you require it."
"You are very kind," said Mrs. Hoffman gratefully; "but we have a sumof money, more than enough for our present needs, deposited with Mr.Preston. We are not less obliged to you for so kind an offer."
Mrs. Talbot was still more prepossessed in favor of her visitors bythe manner in which her offer had been declined. She saw that they hadtoo much self-respect to accept assistance unless actually needed.
"I am glad to hear that," she said. "It is not all who are fortunateenough to have a reserve fund to fall back upon. Now, if you havesufficiently examined the basement, we will go upstairs."
While passing through the upper chambers, Mrs. Talbot gave directionsfor their care, which would not be interesting to the reader, and aretherefore omitted.
"I had intended," she said, "to offer you the use of the upperchambers, but they are so far off from the basement that it might beinconvenient for you to occupy them. If you prefer, you may move downtwo bedsteads to the lower part of the house. I have no objection toyour putting one in the dining-room, if you desire it."
"Thank you, Mrs. Talbot; I should prefer it."
"Then you may consider yourself at liberty to do it. I believe I havenow said all I wanted to you. Can you come here next Tuesday?"
"Yes, we will do so."
"By the way, I forgot to inquire the size of your family."
"I have only one other child, a little boy of eight."
Mrs. Talbot heard this with satisfaction, for she was aware of thedestructive propensities of children, and preferred that the family incharge should be small.
"I believe I have nothing further to say," said Mrs. Talbot. "Shouldanything else occur to me, I will mention it to you on Tuesday whenyou come here permanently."
Paul and his mother took their leave. When they were in the street,Paul inquired:
"Well, mother, what do you think of Mrs. Talbot?"
"I like her very much. She seems to be a real lady."
"So I think. She seems to be very kind and considerate."
"We are very fortunate to get so good a home and save the entirerent."
"It will save us two hundred and forty dollars a year."
"We shall be able to save up considerable money every year."
"But there's one thing I want to say, mother. As we are in so muchbetter circumstances, there will be no need of your working onneckties any more."
"Are you going to discharge me from your employment, Paul?" said hismother, smiling.
"Not unless you are willing, mother; but you will have enough to dolooking after the house."
"I would rather keep on making neckties. It is a work that I like. Inreturn I will hire my washing done, and all the rougher work."
"Perhaps that will be better," said Paul; "but you can do both if youlike."
"I don't mean to lead an idle life, Paul. I should not feel happy if Idid. I was always fond of sewing--that is, in moderation. When I madeshirts for that establishment in Broadway, for such low prices, Icannot say that I enjoyed that very much. I am glad to be relieved ofsuch work, though at that time I was glad to get it."
"Those days have gone by forever, I hope, mother. I am young andstrong, and I don't see why there isn't as good a chance for me tosucceed as for other poor boys who have risen to wealth and eminence.I am going to work for success, at any rate. But we shall have to makesome purchases before Tuesday."
"What kind of purchases?"
"Jimmy and I are out of clothes, you know. My entire wardrobe has beenconsumed by the devouring element, as the reporters say. Now, being ayoung man of fashion, I don't quite like being reduced to one suit andone shirt, with other things in proportion."
"If you could wait, I would make you some shirts."
"But I can't wait. I shouldn't feel like wearing the shirt I have onmore than a fortnight."
"I hope not," said his mother, smiling.
"Suppose I should be invited to a party and be obliged to decline withthanks, on account of having only one shirt. My reputation as a youngman of fashion would be gone forever."
"So I should think."
"To-morrow I will buy a couple of shirts, and these will last me, withthe help of the washerwoman, until you can make me some new ones. ThenI will go to Bookair's tomorrow, and take Jimmy with me and buy newsuits for both."
"I am afraid you are getting extravagant, Paul."
"If we live on Madison avenue, we must dress accordingly, you know,mother. That reminds me, I must buy two trunks also."
"Two?"
"Yes; one for you, and the other for Jimmy and myself. At present Icould tie up all my clothes in a handkerchief--that is, if I had aspare one; but I am going to have some more. You must have some newthings also, mother."
"I can wait till we get settled in our new home. I am afraid you won'thave money enough for all the articles you mean to buy."
"I may have to draw some from Mr. Preston. I think I will call on himto-morrow and do so. I forgot how much we had to buy. I shall close upbusiness to-morrow and Monday, and spend the time in preparation formoving."
Mrs. Hoffman would not, had the matter rested with her, have been infavor of expending so much money, but she had considerable confidencein Paul's judgment, and indeed their prospects looked bright enough towarrant it; so she withdrew her objections, and Paul had his own way,as he generally did.
Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant Page 7
