e could not quite
make it seem natural that her new lodger, who was in rather neglige
costume, should be a guest at a fashionable hotel.

"I will leave my valise," said Rodney, "and will send for my trunk. It
is in the country."

Mike looked at him, not feeling quite certain whether he was in earnest,
but Rodney was perfectly serious.

"You're better off than me," said Mike, when they reached the street.
"If I had a trunk I wouldn't have anything to put into it."

"I'll see if I can't rig you out, Mike. I've got a good many clothes,
bought when I was rich. You and I are about the same size. I'll give you
a suit of clothes to wear on Sundays."

"Will you?" exclaimed Mike, his face showing pleasure. "I'd like to see
how I look in good clo'es. I never wore any yet. It wouldn't do no good
in my business."

"You won't want to wear them when at work. But wouldn't you like to
change your business?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever tried?"

"What'd be the use of tryin'? They'd know I was a bootblack in these
clo'es."

"When you wear a better suit you can go round and try your luck."

"I'd like to," said Mike wistfully. "I don't want you to tell at the
store that you room with a bootblack."

"It isn't that I think of, Mike. I want you to do better. I'm going to
make a man of you."

"I hope you are. Sometimes I've thought I'd have to be a bootblack
always. When do you think you'll get the clo'es?"

"I shall write to the principal of the boarding school at once, asking
him to forward my trunk by express. I want to economize a little this
week, and shall have to pay the express charges."

"I'll pay up my part of the rent, Rodney, a quarter a day."

Rodney had advanced the whole sum, as Mike was not in funds.

"If you can't pay a dollar a week I will pay a little more than half."

"There ain't no need. I'll pay my half and be glad to have a nice room."

"I've got three or four pictures at the school, and some books. I'll
send for them later on, and we'll fix up the room."

"Will you? We'll have a reg'lar bang up place. I tell you that'll be
better than livin' at the Lodge."

"Still that seems a very neat place. It is lucky for poor boys that they
can get lodging so cheap."

"But it isn't like havin' a room of your own, Rodney. I say, when we're
all fixed I'll ask some of me friends to come in some evenin' and take a
look at us. They'll be s'prised."

"Certainly, Mike. I shall be glad to see any of your friends."