on Monday, won't you, Phil?"

"Of course I will--only too glad to begin at once."

"My poor boy," said May, putting her hand on her brother's arm, "it's
not a very great beginning of life to become a telegraph-messenger."

"Ah! now, May, that's not like yourself," said Phil, who unconsciously
dropped--perhaps we should say rose--to a more decided brogue when he
became tender or facetious. "Is it rousin' the pride of me you'd be
afther? Don't they say that any ould fiddle is good enough to learn
upon? Mustn't I put my foot on the first round o' the ladder if I want
to go up higher? If I'm to be Postmaster-General mustn't I get a
general knowledge of the post from the bottom to the top by goin'
through it? It's only men like George there that can go slap over
everything at a bound."

"Come, Phil, don't be impertinent," said George, "it's a bad sign in one
so young. Will you convoy me a short way? I must go now."

He rose as he spoke and bade Miss Lillycrop good-evening. That lady
expressed an earnest hope that he would come to see her frequently, and
he promised to do so as often as he could find time. He also bade May
good-evening because she was to spend the night with her cousin, but May
parted from him with the same touch of reserve that marked their
meeting. He resented this by drawing himself up and turning away
somewhat coldly.

"Now, Phil," he said, almost sternly, on reaching the street, "here's a
letter to Sir James Clubley which I want to read to you.--Listen."

By the light of a lamp he read:--

"DEAR SIR,--I appreciate your kindness in offering me the situation
mentioned in your letter of the 4th, and especially your remarks in
reference to my late father, who was indeed worthy of esteem. I shall
have pleasure in calling on you on hearing that you are satisfied with
the testimonials herewith enclosed.--I am, etcetera."

"Now, Phil, will that do?"

"Do? of course it will. Nothing could be better. Only--"

"Well, what?"

"Don't you think that you might call without waiting to hear his opinion
of your testimonials?"

"No, Phil, I don't," replied the other in a slightly petulant tone; "I
don't feel quite sure of the spirit in which he referred to my dear
father. Of course it was kind and all that, but it was slightly
patronising, and my father was an infinitely superior man to himself."

"Well, I don't know," said Phil; "if you're going to accept a favour of
him you had be