m if I knew his name."

"His name is----"

Here the old gentleman hesitated, for in truth he had forgotten.

"Philip Brent."

"You may sit down here, Mr. Brent," said Mrs. Pitkin, for this was the
lady's name.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"And so you made my uncle's acquaintance this morning?" she continued,
herself taking a seat at the head of the table.

"Yes; he was of service to me," answered Mr. Carter for him. "I had lost
my balance, and should have had a heavy fall if Philip had not come to
my assistance."

"He was very kind, I am sure," said Mrs. Pitkin, but her tone was very
cold.

"Philip," said Mr. Carter, "this is my grand-nephew, Alonzo Pitkin."

He indicated the boy already referred to.

"How do you do?" said Alonzo, staring at Philip not very cordially.

"Very well, thank you," answered Philip politely.

"Where do you live?" asked Alonzo, after a moment's hesitation.

"In Fifth Street."

"That's near the Bowery, isn't it?"

"Yes."

The boy shrugged his shoulders and exchanged a significant look with his
mother.

Fifth Street was not a fashionable street--indeed quite the reverse,
and Phil's answer showed that he was a nobody. Phil himself had begun
to suspect that he was unfashionably located, but he felt that until his
circumstances improved he might as well remain where he was.

But, though he lived in an unfashionable street, it could not be said
that Phil, in his table manners, showed any lack of good breeding. He
seemed quite at home at Mrs. Pitkin's table, and in fact acted with
greater propriety than Alonzo, who was addicted to fast eating and
greediness.

"Couldn't you walk home alone, Uncle Oliver?" asked Mrs. Pitkin
presently.

"Yes."

"Then it was a pity to trouble Mr. Brent to come with you."

"It was no trouble," responded Philip promptly, though he suspected that
it was not consideration for him that prompted the remark.

"Yes, I admit that I was a little selfish in taking up my young friend's
time," said the old gentleman cheerfully; "but I infer, from what he
tells me, that it is not particularly valuable just now."

"Are you in a business position, Mr. Brent?" asked Mrs. Pitkin.

"No, madam. I was looking for a place this morning."

"Have you lived for some time in the city?"

"No; I came here only yesterday from the country."

"I think country boys are very foolish to leave good homes in the
country to seek places in the city," said Mrs. Pitkin sharply.