"Is your
mother able to earn anything?"
"Not much, sir. She makes shirts for a Broadway store, but they
only pay her twenty-five cents apiece."
"That's very small. She can sew well, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes, sir; no fault is ever found with her work."
"Do you think she would make me a dozen shirts?"
"She would be glad to do so," said Paul, quickly, for he knew
that his new acquaintance would pay far more liberally than the
Broadway firm.
"I will give the price I usually pay--ten shillings apiece."
Ten shillings in New York currency amount to a dollar and a
quarter, which would be five times the price Mrs Hoffman had been
accustomed to receive. A dozen shirts would come to fifteen
dollars, which to a family in their circumstances would be a
great help.
"Thank you, sir," said Paul. "My mother will accept the work
thankfully, and will try to suit you. When shall I come for the
cloth?"
"You may come to my house this evening, and I will give you a
pattern, and an order for the materials on a dry goods dealer in
Broadway."
"Where do you live, sir?"
"No. ---- Madison avenue, between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth
streets. My name is Preston. Can you remember it?"
"Yes, sir; but I will put it down to make sure.
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