, Anstey would constantly appeal to his subordinate for
confirmation of his statements or anecdotes--"Isn't that so, Smith?"
"Didn't I, Smith?" and so forth; whereupon the latter would remove his
pipe from his mouth, and spit and remark, "_Ja_, that's so." Which was
the full extent of his conversation.

CHAPTER SIX.

GERARD IS LAUNCHED.

"Why not stay on here a bit, Gerard, and help me in the store?"

Thus Anstey, on the following day, after dinner. The two were alone.
Harry Maitland had returned to Maritzburg, disgusted with the exceeding
roughness of his night's quarters, which together with the booming
snores of Smith, who slept in the adjoining store, had effectually
hindered him from getting any sleep to speak of. Gerard, however, had
yielded to his relative's urgent invitation to stay a few days and talk
matters over. He, too, found his quarters none too comfortable, and he
did not like Anstey--indeed, he feared he never should like him; but, he
reflected with something of a sigh, beggars cannot be choosers. He was
a stranger in a strange land, and after all this man was his relative,
though a distant one, and showed every desire to help him.

"It is very good of you," he replied. "But I know nothing of that sort
of business."

"Pooh! You don't want to know anything--at least--that is--I mean,"
correcting himself hurriedly, "there's nothing very technical about it.
You only want a little commonsense and ordinary smartness, and of that I
should say you had plenty. Well, then, we'll consider the matter
settled. Smith is leaving me soon, and until he does I'll give you ten
shillings a week and the run of your teeth. Afterwards I'll give you
more. You see, you'll be learning a useful business all for nothing--a
very paying one, too--and getting a trifle of pay for it besides. The
fact is, Gerard, I want a decent kind of fellow-countryman about me, an
educated chap like yourself. One falls into rough ways all by one's
self."

There was such a genuine ring about this speech, that Gerard felt quite
ashamed of his former mistrust. What a snob he had been to dislike the
man because he was a bit wanting in polish! The thought moved him to
throw an extra warmth into his expressions of thanks.

"Pooh! my dear fellow, don't say another word," said Anstey.
"By-and-by, when you are thoroughly up to the mark, I might leave you
here in charge, and open another place somewhere else. Extend the
business