It chanced, however, that
Joel slept in a small bedroom opening out of his parents' chamber. So
Harry was assigned an attic room, in the end of the house, the sides
sloping down to the eaves. It was inferior to the chambers on the
second floor, but our hero was not disposed to complain. He valued
solitude more than superior finish.
Harry's suspicion was roused by the circumstance that his guardian did
not again refer to his money, nor did he manifest any disappointment
at his ward's declining to intrust him with it.
During the evening, Joel brought out a backgammon board, and proposed
to Harry to play. If there would have been anything to read Harry
would have preferred entertaining himself in that way, but Mr. Fox
didn't appear to be literary. There were a few books in the house, but
they were not of an attractive character.
Partly in backgammon, partly in conversation with the son and heir of
the Foxes, the time passed till half-past eight o'clock.
"Joel, you can go to bed," said his mother. "It is half-past eight."
Joel yawned, and interposed no objection.
"You may as well go, too, Harry," said Mrs. Fox.
"I am ready to go to bed," said Harry.
In fact, he felt rather sleepy, and anticipated little pleasure in
sitting up in the far from exciting company of Mr.
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