before that?"

Reginald flushed.

"I was at school, sir--at Wilderham."

"Wilderham? Why, that's a school for gentlemen's sons."

"My father was a gentleman, sir," said the boy, proudly.

"He's dead then?" said Mr Medlock. "That is sad. But did he leave
nothing behind him?"

"He died suddenly, sir," said Reginald, speaking with an effort, "and
left scarcely anything."

"Did he die in debt? You must excuse these questions, Mr Cruden,"
added the gentleman, with an amiable smile; "it is necessary to ask them
or I would spare you the trouble."

"He did die in debt," said Reginald, "but we were able to pay off every
penny he owed."

"And left nothing for yourself when it was done? Very honourable, my
lad; it will always be a satisfaction to you."

"It is, sir," said Reginald, cheering up.

"You naturally would be glad to improve your income. How much do you
get where you are?"

"Eighteen shillings a week."

Mr Medlock whistled softly.

"Eighteen shillings; that's very little, very poor pay," said he. "I
should have thought, with your education, you could have got more than
that."

It pleased Reginald to have his education recognised in this delicate
way.

"We had to be thankful for what we could get," said he; "there are so
many fellows out of work."

"Very true, very true," said Mr Medlock, shaking his head impressively,
"we had no less than 450 replies to our advertisement."

Reginald gave a gasp. What chance had he among 450 competitors?

Mr Medlock took a turn or two up and down the room, meditating with
himself and keeping his eye all the time on the boy.

"Yes," said he, "450--a lot, isn't it? Very sad to think of it."

"Very sad," said Reginald, feeling called upon to say something.

"Now," said Mr Medlock, coming to a halt in his walk in front of the
boy, "I suppose you guess I wouldn't have asked you to call here if I
and my fellow-directors hadn't been pleased with your letter."

Reginald looked pleased and said nothing.

"And now I've seen you and heard what you've got to say, I think you're
not a bad young fellow; but--"

Mr Medlock paused, and Reginald's face changed to one of keen anxiety.

"I'm afraid, Mr Cruden, you're not altogether the sort we want."

The boy's face fell sadly.

"I would do my best," he said, as bravely as he could, "if you'd try me.
I don't know what the work is yet, but I'm ready to do anything I can."

"Humph!" said Mr Medlock. "What we ad