eaten it!'

"Wasn't this a thunderbolt! How were we to prove whose the letter was?
Wild thoughts of a stomach-pump, or soap and warm water, did flash
through my mind, but what was the use? The fellow had done us after
all, and we had to admit it.

"No one stopped him as he went to the door, half scowling, half
grinning.

"`Good morning, gentlemen!' said he. `I hope you'll get a better
night's rest to-morrow. I promise not to disturb you,' (here followed a
few oaths). `But I'll pay you out, some of you--Crudens, Reginalds,
sneaks, prigs--all of you!'

"With which neat peroration he took his leave, and the _Rocket_ has not
seen him since.

"Here's a long screed! I must pull up now.

"Mother's not very well, she's fretting, I'm afraid, and her eyes
trouble her. I can't say we shall be sorry when Christmas comes, for
try all we can, we're in debt at one or two of the shops. I know you'll
hate to hear it, but it's simply unavoidable on our present means. I
wish I could come down and see you; but for one thing, I can't afford
it, and for another, I can't leave mother. Mrs Shuckleford is really
very kind, though she's not a congenial spirit.

"Young Gedge and I see plenty of one another: he's joined our shorthand
class, and is going in for a little steady work all round. He owes you
a lot for befriending him at the time you did, and he's not forgotten
it. I promised to send you his love next time I wrote. Harker will be
in town next week, which will be jolly. I've never seen Bland since I
called to pay the 6 shillings 6 pence. I fancy he's got into rather a
fast lot, and is making a fool of himself, which is a pity.

"You tell us very little about your Corporation; I hope it is going on
all right. I wish to goodness you were back in town. I never was in
love with the concern, as you know, and at the risk of putting you in a
rage, I can't help saying it's a pity we couldn't all have stayed
together just now. Forgive this growl, old man.

"Your affectionate brother,--

"Horace.

"Wednesday, `d.w.t.' day. To our surprise and trepidation, neither the
`Day in a Sub-Sub-editor's Life' nor `Early Rising' were among the
papers given out to-day to be `declined with thanks.' Granville may
have put them into the fire as not even worth returning, or he may
actually--_O mirabile dictu_--be going to put us into print?"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

VISITORS AT NUMBER 13, SHY STREET.

The concluding sentences