"Alger Jr, Horatio - The Young Explorer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

"You're in luck!" exclaimed Tom. "Say, miss, you don't want a boy to go along to
black your boots, do you?"
Miss Sinclair smiled faintly.
"I think not," she answered.
"Tom," continued Ben, "you won't say a word about my going, will you?"
"Not if you don't want me to. Besides, there ain't nobody to tell."
Miss Sinclair looked relieved. She drew out her pocketbook, and took from it a
ten-dollar bill.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Tom Cooper, ma'am."
"Then, Tom, allow me to offer you a small present."
"Is it all for me?" exclaimed Tom, in amazement.
"Yes."
Tom thrust it into his vest pocket, and immediately executed a somersault,
rather to Miss Sinclair's alarm.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said Tom, assuming his natural posture; "I couldn't help it,
I felt so excited. I never was so rich before."
"May I tell Tom where we are going to stop?" asked Ben.
"Certainly, if he will keep it to himself."
"I shall be at the Astor House, Tom. Come round and see me."
Tom watched the two as they preceded him on their way to Broadway.
"I wonder if I'm dreaming," he said to himself. "If I am, I hope I won't wake up
till I've spent this ten dollars. I guess I'll go to the Old Bowery to-night."
CHAPTER IX. AT THE ASTOR HOUSE.
As they walked up to the hotel together, Miss Sinclair said: "You are probably
surprised at what has taken place, but I have strong reasons for acting as I
have done."
"I don't doubt it, Miss Sinclair," returned Ben.
"It is desirable that I should tell you-"
"Don't tell me anything unless you like, Miss Sinclair. I am not troubled with
curiosity."
"Thank you, but in the confidential relations which we are to hold toward each
other, it is necessary that you should understand my position. I will reserve my
explanation, however, till we reach the hotel."
"We are to stop at the Astor House?"
"Yes, and I wish you to put down my name and your own on the register, and
obtain two rooms as near together as convenient."
"Very well, Miss Sinclair."
"You may put me down as from-well, from Philadelphia."
"All right. Shall I put myself down from Philadelphia, too?"
"Not unless you choose. Your native village will answer. By the way, you are to
pass for my cousin, and it will be better, therefore, that you should call me by
my first name-Ida."
"I wouldn't take the liberty but for your wishing it."
"I do wish it-otherwise it would be difficult to pass you off as my cousin."
"All right, Miss Sinclair-I mean Ida."
"That is better. I shall call you Ben."
"You couldn't very well call me Mr. Stanton," said our hero, smiling.
"Not very well. But here we are at the hotel. We will go in together. I will go
to the ladies' parlor, and you can join me there after securing rooms at the