"I congratulate you on having secured a grocer's boy as escort," he said in a tone of annoyance³.

 

Ben's fist contracted, and he longed to give the pretentious⁴ aristocrat⁵ a lesson, but he had the good sense to wait for the young lady's reply.

 

"I accept your congratulations, Mr. Davenport," said Rose coldly. "I have no desire to change my escort."

 

Tom Davenport laughed derisively⁶, and walked away.

 

"I'd like to box his ears," said Ben, reddening.

 

"He doesn't deserve your notice, Ben," said Rose, taking his arm.

 

But Ben was not easily appeased⁷.

 

"Just because his father is a rich man," he resumed.

 

"He presumes upon it," interrupted Rose, good-naturedly. "Well, let him. That's his chief claim to consideration, and it is natural for him to make the most of it."

 

"At any rate, I hope that can't be said of me," returned Ben, his brow clearing. "If I had nothing but money to be proud of, I should be very poorly off."

 

"You wouldn't object to it, though."

 

"No, I hope, for mother's sake, some day to be rich."

 

"Most of our rich men were once poor boys," said Rose quietly. "I have a book of biographies at home, and I find that not only rich men, but men distinguished⁸ in other ways, generally commenced in poverty."

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