office," said
Mr Bright, "consists of circulars. An account of these was once taken,
and the number was found to be nearly twenty millions a year, and of
these circulars it was ascertained that--"

"Stop! pray, sir, stop!" exclaimed Miss Lillycrop, pressing her hand to
her forehead; "I am lost in admiration of your amazing memory, but I--I
have no head for figures. Indeed, what I have already heard and seen in
this place has produced such confusion in my poor brain that I cannot
perceive any difference whatever between millions, billions, and
trillions!"

"Well, come, we will continue our round," said Mr Bright, laughing.

Now, while all this was going on in the hall, there was a restive
creature inside of a box which did not relish its confinement. This was
Mr Fred Blurt's snake.

That sagacious animal discovered that there was a knot in the side of
his pine-wood box. Now, knots are sometimes loose. Whether the snake
found this out, and wrought at the knot intentionally, or forced it out
accidentally during its struggles, we cannot tell, but certain it is
that it got it out somehow, made its escape, and glided away into the
darkest corner it could find.

Meanwhile its box was treated after the manner of parcels, and put
safely into one of the mail-bags.

As the mass of letters began to diminish in bulk the snake began to feel
uncomfortably exposed. At the same time Miss Lillycrop, with that
wicked delight in evil prophecy which is peculiar to mankind, began to
feel comfortably exultant.

"You see I was right!" she said to her guide, glancing at the clock,
which now indicated ten minutes to eight; "the confusion is almost as
great as ever."

"We shall see," replied Mr Bright, quietly, as he led the way back to
the gallery.

From this point it could be seen, even by unpractised eyes, that,
although the confusion of letters all over the place was still
considerable, there were huge gaps on the sorting-tables everywhere,
while the facing-tables were of course empty. There was a push and
energy also which had not prevailed at first. Men seemed as though they
really were in considerable haste. Letters were being bundled up and
tied with string and thrust into bags, and the bags sealed with a degree
of celerity that transfixed Miss Lillycrop and silenced her. A few
minutes more and the tables were cleared. Another minute, and the bags
were being carried out. Thirty red vans outside gaped to receive the