de him, and, with the air more of a man inspecting the work of
another than of a learner seeking information, he examined the papers
and books handed to him and catechised Harris as to their contents.

It was evident that he was fully aware from the beginning of his own
position at the office, and that he wished us all to be aware of it
also. He adopted a patronising air towards me and Jack and the other
clerks, as if we were already in his employment and doing his work.

"A jolly cool hand," growled Doubleday to Crow, in an undertone most
unusual to him when the principals were out of hearing. "I'm glad I'm
not Harris."

"Now then, Harris," said Crow, "mind how you dot your p's and q's, old
man--I mean your i's."

Hawkesbury looked up from his work and said, smiling, "I think Mr
Harris dots his i's very well. What did you say is entered in this
column, Harris?"

This was nothing short of a snub to Crow, who was quiet for the rest of
the day.

After business, as Jack and I were proceeding to walk home, Hawkesbury
came up and joined our party.

"Which way are you going?" inquired he. "I'll join you, if I may."

We could hardly say no, and yet we neither of us relished the offer.
However, he did not appear to notice our reluctance, and walked along
with us, conversing in his usual pleasant way.

"I hope we shall be good friends at the office," he said, after a long
uncomfortable pause.

"I hope so," said I, who knew it was not much use to rely on Jack Smith
to keep up the conversation.

"I dare say you know," said he, "that my uncle's idea is for me some day
to join him and Mr Barnacle, but of course that depends on how I get
on."

"Yes," said I, as there was a pause here.

"In any case I hope that won't make any difference between us old
schoolfellows," he continued. "I hope not," again I replied.

"Where are you living in London?" he presently asked. I told him, and
he thereupon proceeded to make further kind inquiries as to how we liked
our quarters, if we had nice friends, what we did with ourselves, and so
on. All of which it fell-to my lot to answer, as Jack Smith showed no
inclination to assist me.

At length we reached the top of Style Street, where, as usual, the
athletic Billy was at his sports. I really believe he spent the entire
time he was not blacking boots in walking round and round his box on the
palms of his hands with his feet up in the air.

At the sight of his patron he dr