ess, and the gold chain displayed on his vest.
Indeed there was nothing in Dick's appearance which would have been
inconsistent with the idea that he lived on the avenue, and was, what
Roswell claimed to be, a gentleman's son. It seemed to Roswell that Dick
was immensely presumptuous in swaggering up Madison Avenue in such a
style, as he mentally called it, and he formed the benevolent design of
"taking down his pride," and making him feel uncomfortable, if possible.

"Have you lost your place?" he inquired.

"No," said Dick, "not yet. It's very kind of you to inquire."

"I suppose they pay you for walking the streets, then," he said, with a
sneer.

"Yes," said Dick, composedly; "that's one of the things they pay me
for."

"I suppose you like it better than blacking boots?" said Roswell, who,
supposing that Dick was ashamed of his former occupation, felt a
malicious pleasure in reminding him of it.

"Yes," said Dick, "I like it better on the whole; but then there's some
advantages about boot-blackin'."

"Indeed!" said Roswell, superciliously. "As I was never in the business,
I can't of course decide."

"Then I was in business for myself, you see, and was my own master. Now
I have to work for another man."

"You don't seem to be working very hard now," said Roswell, enviously.

"Not very," said Dick. "You must be tired carrying that heavy bundle.
I'll carry it for you as far as I go."

Roswell, who was not above accepting a favor from a boy he didn't like,
willingly transferred it to our hero.

"I carried it out just to oblige," he said, as if he were not in the
daily habit of carrying such packages.

"That's very kind of you," said Dick.

Roswell did not know whether Dick spoke sarcastically or not, and
therefore left the remark unnoticed.

"I don't think I shall stay where I am very long," he said.

"Don't you like?" asked Dick.

"Not very well. I'm not obliged to work for a living," added Roswell,
loftily, but not altogether truly.

"I am," said Dick. "I've had to work for a living ever since I was six
years old. I suppose you work because you like it."

"I'm learning business. I'm going to be a merchant, as my father was."

"I'll have to give up the bundle now," said Dick. "This is as far as I
am going."

Roswell took back his bundle, and Dick went up the steps of Mr.
Rockwell's residence and rang the door-bell.

CHAPTER X.

A STORE ON SIXTH AVENUE.

Roswell kept on his way wit