rel that was
being enacted; but it soon began to dawn on me. Jack Smith was being
set on by the others.

What his offence had been I could not quite gather, though I believe it
consisted in his insisting on using the ledger he was at work on till
the actual hour for ceasing work arrived, while Harris, who was
responsible for the locking-up of the books, and who wanted this evening
to go half an hour earlier, was demanding that he should give it up now.

"I must finish these accounts to-night," said Jack.

"I tell you I'm not going to be kept here half an hour just to please
you," replied Harris.

"We're not supposed to stop work till seven," said Jack; "that's the
time we always work to when Mr Barnacle is here. And it's only half-
past six now."

"What business of yours is it when we're supposed to work to, Mr Prig?"
demanded Harris, savagely. "You're under my orders here, and you'll do
what I tell you."

"I'm under Mr Barnacle's orders," said Jack, going on with his writing.

"You mean to say you're not going to do what I tell you?" asked Harris,
in a rage.

"I'm going to do what's right--that's all," said Smith, quietly.

"Right! You humbug! You're a nice respectable fellow to talk about
right to us, Mr Gaol-bird! As if we didn't know who you are! You son
of a thief and swindler! Right, indeed! We don't want to hear about
right from you!"

Jack gave one startled, scared, upward look as he spoke; but it was
turned not to the speaker, but to me. I shall never forget that look.
I could have sunk into the earth with shame and misery as I encountered
it.

He closed the ledger, and with white face and quivering lips took his
hat and walked silently from the office.

To me his manner was more terrible than if he had broken out into
torrents of passion and abuse. At the sight of his face that moment my
treachery and sin appeared suddenly in their true light before my eyes.
I had been false to my best friend, and more than false.

Who could tell if I had not ruined him? Vain and selfish fool that I
had been! Always thinking what others would think of me, and never how
best I could help him in his gallant struggle against his evil destiny.

I rushed wildly from the office after him, and overtook him on the
stairs.

"Oh, Jack," I cried, "it really wasn't my--oh! I'm so dreadfully sorry,
Jack! If you'll only let me explain, I can--"

He was gone. The door shut-to suddenly in my face, leaving