vening paper in the city, and as solicitor to the company I had an
opportunity of mentioning your sons to the manager. He is willing to
take them, provided they are willing to work. The pay will begin at
eighteen shillings a week, but I hope they will soon make their value
felt, and command a better position. They are young yet."

"What shall we have to do?" asked Horace.

"That I cannot exactly say," said the lawyer; "but I believe the manager
would expect you to learn the printer's business from the beginning."

"What would the hours be?" asked Mrs Cruden.

"Well, as it is an evening paper, there will fortunately be no late
night work. I believe seven in the morning to eight at night were the
hours the manager mentioned."

"And--and," faltered the poor mother, who was beginning to realise the
boys' lot better than they did themselves--"and what sort of companions
are they likely to have, Mr Richmond?"

"I believe the manager is succeeding in getting respectable men as
workmen. I hope so."

"Workmen!" exclaimed Reginald, suddenly. "Do you mean we are to be
workmen, Mr Richmond? Just like any fellows in the street. Couldn't
you find anything better than that for us?"

"My dear Master Cruden, I am very sorry for you, and would gladly see
you in a better position. But it is not a case where we can choose.
This opening has offered itself. Of course, you are not bound to accept
it, but my advice is, take what you can get in these hard times."

"Oh, of course, we're paupers, I--forgot," said Reg, bitterly, "and
beggars mayn't be choosers. Anything you like, mother," added he,
meeting Mrs Cruden's sorrowful look with forced gaiety. "I'll sweep a
crossing if you like, Mr Richmond, or black your office-boy's boots,--
anything to get a living."

Poor boy! He broke down before he could finish the sentence, and his
flourish ended in something very like a sob.

Horace was hardly less miserable, but he said less. Evidently, as Reg
himself had said, beggars could not be choosers, and when presently Mr
Richmond left, and the little family talked the matter over late into
the afternoon, it was finally decided that the offer of the manager of
the _Rocket_ Newspaper Company, Limited, should be accepted, and that
the boys should make their new start in life on the Monday morning
following.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE "ROCKET" NEWSPAPER COMPANY, LIMITED.

The reader may imagine that the walk our two heroes took C