ENTERING UPON HIS DUTIES When Ben had taken out his clothing from his valise and put it away in the drawers of the handsome bureau which formed a part of the furniture of his room, he went downstairs, and found his patroness in a cozy sitting room, on the second floor.

It was furnished, Ben could not help thinking, more as if it were designed for a gentleman than a lady.

In one corner was a library table, with writing materials, books, and papers upon it, and an array of drawers on either side of the central part.
"Come right in, Ben," said Mrs.Hamilton, who was seated at the table.
"We will talk of business." This Ben was quite willing to do.

He was anxious to know what were to be his duties, that he might judge whether he was competent to discharge them.
"Let me tell you, to begin with," said his patroness, "that I am possessed of considerable wealth, as, indeed, you may have judged by way of living.

I have no children, unfortunately, and being unwilling, selfishly, to devote my entire means to my own use exclusively, I try to help others in a way that I think most suitable.
Mrs.Hill, who acts as my housekeeper, is a cousin, who made a poor marriage, and was left penniless.