"I will promise not to put myself to any inconvenience," he said. "Will that satisfy you? Will you now refuse a favor at my hands, Scott, my boy?"
"I would rather receive a favor from you than from Mr. Little, if you really feel that you can afford it."
"You need not be apprehensive on that score. At what time do you go out to lunch?"
"I will call at that time to-morrow, and we will manage to get time to stop at a tailor's and leave your measure."
"But, Cousin Seth, a ready-made suit will answer."
"As this is the first present I have given you, I will make it a good one. Probably we can find a tailor near your store."
"Yes; Mr. Little's tailor has a shop only three blocks away. Here is his card."
When the suit was finished Scott put it on at once, and left his old one to be cleaned and repaired.
It was hardly to be supposed that it would escape the observation of Loammi and his father. As a matter of fact, it was handsomer than any his cousin wore.
"Where did you get that suit?" asked Loammi, in amazement.
Loammi was not slow in carrying the news to his father.
"Pa," he said, "see the new suit Mr. Lawton has given Scott."
Mr. Little put on his glasses and closely examined his young relative.
"Did you ask Mr. Lawton to buy you a suit?" he asked, abruptly.
"No, sir. I did not wish him to go to such an expense."
"It must have cost at least twenty-five dollars."
"Seth is a fool. He is probably poor, and could not afford such an extravagant outlay."
"He told me he could afford it, and I had to take his word."
"It is better than my best suit, pa," complained Loammi.
"You shall have as good a one when you need it. It is only three weeks since I bought you a suit."
"Was it a ready-made suit?" asked Loammi of Scott.
"No; it was made to order by the tailor your father mentioned to me."
"You will soon get it shabby wearing it every day."
"I don't intend to do so. I left my old suit to be cleaned and repaired."
"Well, you are provided for, for the present, thanks to Seth Lawton's folly. I don't wonder he is poor if that is the way he manages. Do you know if he has got work yet?"
"He told me part of his time was occupied."
"I suppose he has got a little job to do at bookkeeping. Possibly it will pay him twenty-five dollars. On the strength of that he has bought you a suit at twenty-eight dollars. Seth always was a fool. When he finds himself in need, it won't do him any good to apply to me."