"Yes, mother. You know I haven't any brother, and Phil seems just like a brother to me."
Just then the door opened, and Philip himself entered the room.
Generally he came home looking depressed, after a long and ineffectual search for employment. Now he was fairly radiant with joy.
"Phil, you've got a place; I know you have!" exclaimed Julia, noticing his glad expression. "Where is it? Is it a good one?"
"Have you really got a place, Philip?" asked Mrs.
Forbush.
"Yes, for the present."
"Do you think you shall like your employer?"
"He is certainly treating me very well," said Phil, smiling. "He has paid me twenty dollars in advance."
"Then the age of wonders has not passed," said the widow. "Of course I believe you, Philip, but it seems extraordinary."
"There is something more extraordinary to come," said Phil. "He has sent you some money, too."
"Me!" exclaimed Mrs. Forbush, in great surprise.
"What can he know about me?"
"I told him about you."
"But we are strangers."
"He used to know you, and still feels an interest in you, Mrs. Forbush."
"Who can it be?" said the widow, looking bewildered.
"I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer, so I may as well say that it is your Uncle Oliver."
"Uncle Oliver! Why, he is in Florida."
"No; he came home from Charleston. I happened to be at the pier--I went down to see if I could get a job at smashing baggage--when I saw him walking down the gang-plank."
"Has he gone to his old quarters at Mr. Pitkin's?"
"No; what I told about the way they treated you and me made him angry, and he drove to the Astor House. I have a room there, too, and am to act as his private secretary."
"So that is your new situation, Phil?" said Julia.
"Yes, and it is a good one."
"And he really feels kindly to me?" said Mrs.
Forbush hopefully.
"He sends you this and will call to-morrow," said Phil. "Actions speak louder than words. There are a hundred dollars in this roll of bills."
"He sent all this to me?" she said.
"Yes, and of his own accord. It was no suggestion of mine.
"Julia," said Mrs. Forbush, turning to her daughter, "I believe God has heard my prayer, and that better days are in store for all of us."
"Philip included," added Phil, smiling.
"Yes. I want you to share in our good fortune."
"Mother, you had better consult Phil about keeping the house."
"Oh, yes."
Mrs. Forbush thereupon told Philip of the landlord's visit and his proposal to ask a higher rent.
"I hesitated about taking the house," she said;
"but with this handsome gift from Uncle Oliver, I don't know but I may venture. What do you think?"
"I think, Mrs. Forbush, you had better not decide till you have seen your uncle. He may have some plan of his own for you. At any rate, you had better consult him. He will call to-morrow. And now, let me pay you for my week's board."
"No, Philip. I shall not want it with all this money, which I should not have received but for you."
"A debt is a debt, Mrs. Forbush, and I prefer to pay it. I shall not be here to supper, as Mr. Carter is expecting me back to the Astor House. I shall probably come with him when he calls upon you to-morrow."
On his return to the hotel, as he was walking on Broadway, Phil came face to face with Alonzo Pitkin.
"I think I'll ask him about that letter his uncle gave him to post to me," thought Phil, and he waited until Alonzo was close at hand.
