CHAPTER IV.

MR. LIONEL LAKE.

Six months before it might have cost Philip a pang to leave home. Then
his father was living, and from him the boy had never received aught but
kindness. Even his step-mother, though she secretly disliked him, did
not venture to show it, and secure in the affections of his supposed
father, he did not trouble himself as to whether Mrs. Brent liked him
or not. As for Jonas, he was cautioned by his mother not to get himself
into trouble by treating Phil badly, and the boy, who knew on which side
his interests lay, faithfully obeyed. It was only after the death of Mr.
Brent that both Jonas and his mother changed their course, and thought
it safe to snub Philip.

Planktown was seventy-five miles distant from New York, and the fare was
two dollars and a quarter.

This was rather a large sum to pay, considering Phil's scanty fund, but
he wished to get to the great city as soon as possible, and he decided
that it would be actually cheaper to ride than to walk, considering that
he would have to buy his meals on the way.

He took his seat in the cars, placing a valise full of underclothes on
the seat next him. The train was not very full, and the seat beside him
did not appear to be required.