"I shall bear in mind what you say, sir," said Ben. "I think I have checkmated this meddling Bolton," said the major to himself, in a tone of satisfaction. When, a few hours later, Bolton approached Ben and asked: "Have you spoken to Major Grafton about me?" Ben coldly answered, "Yes, sir." "Did he remember me?" questioned Bolton. "Yes, sir." "I thought he would. Are we likely to see him on deck soon?" "No, sir, I think not." Ben spoke so coldly that Bolton regarded him with a puzzled look. He could not help seeing that the boy did not care to continue the conversation, and, with a bow of farewell, joined another passenger in a promenade. "I should like to have asked him a little more about the boy I am succeeding," thought Ben; but he respected the major's wishes, and kept aloof from Bolton for the remainder of the voyage. CHAPTER XVII. THE BEAUFORTS IN TROUBLE. There was an anxious look on Rose Beaufort's pleasant face. She and her young brother were the only bread-winners in the family, and work as hard as they might it was very difficult to make both ends meet. But for one item they could have managed with strict economy, but that item--the rent--was a formidable one. They hired their humble apartment of a Mrs. Flanagan, who leased the whole floor, and agreed to pay two dollars a week. This woman was a coarse, selfish person, whose heart was as hard and unfeeling as her face and manners were unprepossessing. One Monday morning, about two months after Ben's departure for Europe, the landlady knocked at the door of the two sisters. "It's Mrs. Flanagan," said Rose, with a troubled look, recognizing her knock. "She has come for her rent, and I have but fifty cents toward it." "Perhaps she will wait," suggested Adeline; but her voice was not hopeful. "Come in!" said Rose. "You were mighty long tellin' me to come in," grumbled the landlady, as she entered the humble room, with a hostile look. "I am sorry if I kept you waiting," said Rose, gently. "I thought maybe you didn't want to see me," said Mrs. Flanagan. "I won't stay long to trouble ye." "Stay as long as you like," said Rose in a conciliatory manner. "I didn't come for any palaver--I haven't the time. I suppose you know what I came for. You haven't forgot it's Monday mornin'?" said the landlady, in an aggressive tone. "I didn't forget it, Mrs. Flanagan, but I am afraid I shall have to disappoint you this morning." "Do you mane to say you haven't got my rint ready?" demanded Mrs. Flanagan, her red face becoming still more inflamed with anger. "Indeed, Mrs. Flanagan, it isn't my fault," pleaded Rose. "I've got fifty cents toward it, and if--" "Fifty cints! What's fifty cints?" exclaimed the landlady, angrily. "Can I pay my rint wid fifty cints? It's a shame--that it is--for you to chate a poor hard-workin' woman, and a widder besides." "My sister never cheats anybody," said Adeline, indignantly.