Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/64

 "I ain't done this thing for you," he said shortly. "I done it for her. If you'd got fired you could n't marry her—and she might have been disappointed."

"Yes," acquiesced Davidson, thoughtfully, "she might. I might have been disappointed, too, but I see you did n't let that thought influence you. Believe me, my boy," he added seriously, "I appreciate anything you do for Miss Neville much more than if you had done it for me. I hope you will let me thank you for us both."

He extended his hand, into which, after an instant's hesitation, Chesterfield gravely put his own small paw. Davidson looked at him with a peculiar expression in his handsome eyes.

"You 're a trump, Chesterfield!" he repeated feelingly.

He put his hands on the boy's shoulders, helpheld [sic] him off at arm's length and looked him over.

"Chesterfield," he added thoughtfully, "I have observed that your clothes are not altogether suited to a young gentleman in your position. For example, you are wearing