ith his fall, his face covered with mud, but
to Reginald's delight he was able to move and with a little help stand
on his feet. As he did so the light from the lamp of the cab fell on
his face, and caused Reginald to utter an exclamation of surprise and
horror.

"Young Gedge!"

The boy looked at him for a moment in a stupid bewildered way, and then
gave a short startled cry.

"Are you hurt?" said Reginald, putting his arm round him.

"No--I--I don't think--let's get away."

Reginald called to the crowd to stand back and let them out, an order
which the crowd obeyed surlily and with a disappointed grunt. Not even
a broken leg! not even the cabman's number taken down! One or two who
had seen the accident patted Reginald on the back as he went by, but he
hurried past them as quickly as he could, and presently stood in the
seclusion of a by-street, still supporting his companion on his arm.

"Are you hurt?" he inquired again.

"No," said Gedge; "I can walk."

The two stood facing one another for a moment in silence, breathless
still, and trembling with the excitement of the last few minutes.

"Oh, Cruden!" cried the boy at last, seizing Reginald's arm, "what will
you think of me? I was--I--I'd been drinking--I'm sober now, but--"

Reginald cut him short gently but firmly.

"I know," said he. "You'd better go home now, young 'un."

Gedge made no answer, but walked on, with his arm still in that of his
protector.

Reginald saw him into an omnibus, and then returned sadly and
thoughtfully homeward.

"Humph!" said he to himself, as he reached Dull Street, "I suppose I
shall have to stick on at the _Rocket_ after all."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

MR. DURFY GIVES REGINALD A TESTIMONIAL.

Reginald Cruden was a young man who took life hard and seriously. He
was not brilliant--indeed, he was not clever. He lacked both the good
sense and the good-humour which would have enabled him, like Horace, to
accept and make the best of his present lot. He felt aggrieved by the
family calamity, and just enough ashamed of his poverty to make him
touchy and intractable to a degree which, as we have seen already,
amounted sometimes almost to stupidity.

Still Reginald was honest. He made no pretence of enjoying life when he
did not enjoy it. He disliked Mr Durfy, and therefore he flared up if
Mr Durfy so much as looked at him. He liked young Gedge, and therefore
it was impossible to leave the youngster to his fate and l