de
made my heart very sore. It was only on her account that I could
control the deadly and revengeful feelings I cherished against him.
Theophilus and Mr. Jones, I considered beneath contempt.

CHAPTER V.

A CHANGE IN MY PROSPECTS.

The next day, I was surprised at receiving a message from Mr. Moncton
desiring me to attend him in his private office. I went to him in fear
and trembling. I was ill, nervous and dispirited, and cared very little
as to what in future might become of me.

I found him all smiles and affability. "Geoffrey," said he, holding out
his hand, as I entered, "I trust you have received a useful lesson. You
will be wise to lay it to heart. Mr. Jones tells me that you write a
good bold hand. Give me a specimen of it. Sit down at the table, and
direct that letter to Messieurs Hanbury and Company, Liverpool."

I did as I was commanded, but my hand trembled with excitement: I found
some difficulty in steadying the pen. He took the letter and looked at
it carefully, muttering as he did so--

"How like my father's hand. Ay, and how like in obstinacy of purpose;
more like him in every respect than his own sons." Then turning to me,
who was lost in wonder at this sudden change in his manner towards me,
he said, "This is well; you write a fair, legible hand for a boy. I
want a lad in my office to copy writs and other law papers. I think you
will just do for that purpose. If you are diligent and industrious,
after two years trial, I will article you to myself. How old are you?"

"Thirteen, next August."

"It is young; but you are tall and manly for your age. You and
Theophilus are never likely to agree; it is best for you to be apart.
You have no fortune of your own. I will give you a profession, and make
an independent man of you, if you will try for the future to be a
docile and obedient boy."

I promised to do my best. He then bade me follow him, and leading the
way through a narrow arched passage, he introduced me into the public
office, where the large business in which he was engaged was carried
on. Though I had been four years in the house, I had never seen the
inside of this office before. It was a spacious, dark, dirty,
apartment, lighted by high, narrow windows of ground glass; so that no
time could be wasted by the junior clerks in looking out into the
street. Several pale, melancholy men were seated at desks, hard at
work. You heard nothing but the rapid scratching of their pens aga