d marched ostentatiously past Mr Durfy's table, as
though to challenge his observation.

If that was his intention he was not disappointed.

"Oh," said the overseer, with a return of the old sneer, which had been
dormant ever since the night Reginald had knocked him down. "You _have_
come, have you? And you know the hour, do you?"

"Yes, it's a quarter past two," said Reginald.

"Is it?" sneered Mr Durfy, in his most offensive way.

"Yes, it is," replied the boy, hotly.

What did he care for Durfy now? To-morrow in all probability he would
have the satisfaction of walking up to that table and saying, "Mr
Durfy, I leave here on Saturday," meanwhile he was not disposed to stand
any of his insolence.

But he hardly expected what was coming next.

"Very well, then you can just put your hat on your head and go back the
way you came, sir."

"What do you mean?" said Reginald, in startled tones.

"Mean? what I say!" shouted Durfy. "You're dismissed, kicked out, and
the sooner you go the better."

So this was the dignified leave-taking to which he had secretly looked
forward! Kicked out! and kicked out by Durfy! Reginald's toes tingled
at the very thought.

"You've no right to dismiss me for being a few minutes late," said he.

It was Durfy's turn now to be dignified. He went on writing, and did
his best to affect oblivion of his enemy's presence.

Reginald, too indignant to know the folly of such an outburst, broke
out,--

"I shall not take my dismissal from you. I shall stay here as long as I
choose, and when I go I'll go of my own accord, you cad, you--"

Mr Durfy still went on writing with a cheerful smile on his
countenance.

"Do you hear?" said Reginald, almost shouting the words. "I'm not going
to please you. I shall go to please myself. I give _you_ notice, and
thank Heaven I've done with you."

Durfy looked up with a laugh.

"Go and make that noise outside," he said. "We can do without you here.
Gedge, my man, put those cases beside you back into the rack, and go
and tell the porter he's wanted."

The mention of Gedge's name cowed Reginald in an instant, and in the
sudden revulsion of feeling which ensued he was glad enough to escape
from the room before fairly breaking down under a crushing sense of
injury, mortification, and helplessness. Gedge was at the door as he
went out.

"Oh, Cruden," he whispered, "what will become of me now? Wait for me
outside at seven o'clock; please