Chapter 27

HARD UP.

A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert�s circumstances. But this was our hero�s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him. He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved. His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.

�What made you so quiet, Gilbert?� he asked. �You scarcely uttered a word at the dinner-table.�

�The fact is, Mr. Ingalls, I am in trouble,� answered Gilbert.

�About your loss of place? You told me about that, and that you expected to get it back when your employer returned.�

�So I do; but there is another trouble.�

�Troubles never come singly, they say.�

�It seems to be true in my case. I am owing for a week�s board, and don�t know where I shall get the money to pay it.�

�I thought your guardian paid your board,� said Ingalls, who was acquainted with the particulars of Gilbert�s history.

�So he did; but he has sailed for Europe suddenly, without making any provision for the payment of my money.�

�How long is he to be gone?�

�Two or three months, they told me at the office.�

�That is rather inconvenient. If you were only a few years older, there would be a remedy.�

�What remedy?�

�You could marry Miss Brintnall. Mrs. White told me the other day that Miss Brintnall has saved up two or three thousand dollars from her earnings.�

�That will be convenient for you when she becomes Mrs. Ingalls,� said Gilbert, with a smile.

�Do you think I would sacrifice myself for that paltry sum?� demanded Ingalls, with much indignation. �Ten thousand dollars is the lowest sum for which I will sacrifice my liberty. I�ll tell you who is most likely to become Miss Brintnall�s husband, that is, if she consents.�

�Who?�

�Alphonso Jones.�

�What makes you think so?�

�Alphonso lacks money to back up his gentility. He only gets twelve dollars a week, Kidder tells me, though he claims to have a thousand dollars a year. Miss Brintnall�s fortune will be a great inducement to him.�

�You forget that he has hopes of an alliance with the sister of the Count de Montmorency.�

�I think he had better take Miss Brintnall,� said Mr. Ingalls, dryly. �Now, to come back to your affairs. Are you quite out of money?�

�Almost. I gave four dollars to a poor family a day or two since, not expecting that I was to be left this way. I have about fifty cents in my pocket-book, and I owe a week�s board.�

His room-mate reflected a moment.

�I wish I were richer, for your sake, Gilbert,� he said. �As it is, I can lend you money enough to pay this week�s board bill. Before another week comes round, something may turn up.�

�Thank you,� said Gilbert, gratefully; �but I don�t like to rob you.�

�You won�t rob me, for I intend to let you repay it when you can. If I could keep it up till your guardian returns I would do so; but this I can�t do. I will tell you what I would do in your case.�

�I wish you would advise me, for I don�t know what to do. I never was in such a situation before.�

�It was understood that your guardian would pay your board for the present, was it not?�

�Yes. He offered to do it. I never would have asked him.�

�You say he left no directions at the office in regard to it?�

�So the chief clerk told me.�

�It is clear, then, that it escaped his mind in the hurry of an unexpected departure. Probably he will set the matter right in his first letter. Wait a minute, though. His wife and son probably accompanied him to the steamer to see him off.�

�I suppose so.�

�Very likely he spoke to them about it. I advise you to call on them and inquire.�

Gilbert looked reluctant.

�It may be as you say,� said he; �but I don�t like to speak to Mrs. Briggs on the subject. She dislikes me, and so I think does Randolph, though not so much as his mother.�

�So you have told me; still I advise you to call, the sooner the better, in my opinion.�

�Suppose I get no satisfaction?�

�In that case you will know what to look forward to. If you are thrown upon your own resources, you can lay your plans accordingly.�

�I should like to know the worst, at any rate,� said Gilbert, thoughtfully.

�Then take my advice, and call this evening on Mrs. Briggs.�

�I will,� said Gilbert; �but I would rather have a tooth out.�