ked in red velvet upon a side-table; and in front
of it lay open a small, flat flute-case, wherein were the two halves of
a silver-keyed instrument side by side, in company with what seemed to
be its young one--so exact in resemblance was the silver-mounted piccolo
made to fit into the case.

There were other signs about of the occupant's love of the sweet
science; for there were a tuning-fork, a pitch-pipe, and a metronome on
the chimney-piece, a large musical-box on the front of the book-case,
some nondescript pipes, reeds, and objects of percussion; and, to show
that other tastes were cultivated to some extent, there were, besides,
several golf-clubs, fishing-rods, a cricket-bat, and a gun-case.

But the owner of all sat intent upon the contrivance before him upon the
table, and Jerry scratched his nose now with the edge of the
clothes-brush.

"Beg pardon, S'Richard--"

"What the dickens do you want now?" cried the young man, impatiently.

"On'y wanted to 'mind you of what I said lars week, S'Richard."

"Didn't I tell you to talk to me when I wasn't busy?"

"Yes, S'Richard; but, you see, you never ain't not busy. When you ain't
at your books, getting ready for the gov'nor, you're out with Mr Mark
Frayne, sir, or some of the other gents; and when you are at home here,
sir, you're always tunin' up, an' windin' up, or 'venting something."

"Well, there, I am, Jerry," said the young man smoothing his
perplexed-looking brow. "Now, then, what is it?"

"Only this, S'Richard," said the man, eagerly, and he now had laced up
the shoes he had brought in and thrust them beneath the curtain. "You
see, my father he used to say as it was a chap's dooty to try and rise
in the world."

"Yes, of course," said Richard Frayne, thoughtfully taking up a piece of
the contrivance upon which he had been at work.

"And he said, S'Richard, as you ought to be on the look-out."

"Yes. Well?"

"Well, S'Richard, that's it; I'm on the look-out."

"What for, Jerry?"

"To better myself, S'Richard. You see, it's all very well being here
valetin' for the young gents and you, S'Richard; and I s'pose, as far as
character goes, there ain't a better coach nowhere than master, as they
says passes more young gents than anyone."

"No; Mr Draycott is a very clever scholar, Jerry," said the young man,
looking as if he wished the servant would go. "Well?"

"Well, sir, that's all very well for a character for a noo place, but a
chap don