urse, wages have
risen a good bit since then.'

'Yes, yes; the gas of the agitators does sometimes serve to inflate
wages; I'll say that for the beggars. What do you say, Nickperry?'

'Well, si--Mister Perkins----'

'He always calls me "Smister." It's a friendly way they have in
England, like the eye-glass and the turned-up trousers.'

In her smile Mrs. Perkins managed to convey merriment, sympathy for me
as the person chaffed, and humorous disapproval of her husband. I
would gladly have worked for her for nothing, for admiration of her
bright eyes.

'I was going to say that I'd be willing to work for whatever you
liked, till you saw whether I suited you or not,' I managed to
explain.

Mrs. Perkins nodded approvingly, and her husband said: 'That's a very
fair offer. You have an engagious way with you, Nickperry; and so
we'll engage you at ten bob and all found for a start. How's that,
Whizkers?'

The mistress assented pleasantly, and added: 'You'll tell Mrs.
Gabbitas to see to the room, George, won't you, and--and to give
Nickperry what he needs? She will understand. I dare say he'd like a
bath.'

I blushed red-hot at this, but Mrs. Perkins kindly refrained from
looking my way, and the interview ended. Then, like a dinghy in the
wake of a galleon, I followed my new employer to the rearward parts of
the establishment.

X

I used to tell Heron, and others who came into my later life, that the
happiest days I ever knew were the 'ten bob a week and all found' days
of my handy-lad time. It was very likely true, I think; though really
it is next door to impossible for any man to tell which period in his
life has been the more happy; and especially is this so in the case of
the type of man who finds more interest in the past than in the
future. The other side of the road always will be the cleaner, the
trees on the far side of the hill will always be the greener, for a
great many of us. Any other time seems preferable before the present
moment, to some folk; and to many, times past are in every sense
superior to anything the future can have to offer.

At all events I was fortunate in the matter of my first situation, and
I was contented in it, being satisfied that it was an excellent means
to an end which I had decided should be very fine indeed.

I have never yet been able to make up my mind whether I am like or
unlike to the majority of mankind in this: with me every phase of
life, every occupation, eve