, he had otherwise no self-consciousness whatever. No lad on the
pits thought less of his personal appearance or attire, and his friend
Nelly had many times taken him to task for his indifference in this
respect. Mr. Merton perceived advantages in Jack's position in life not
being generally known, and Jack at once fell into the arrangement, and
carried it out, as described, to the best of his ability. But even he
could not help seeing, when he had attired himself for his first visit
to Mr. Merton's house, how complete had been the change in his
appearance.

"Who would have thought that just a little difference in the make of a
coat would have made such an alteration in one's look?" he said to
himself. "I feel different altogether; but that is nonsense, except that
these boots are so much lighter than mine, that it seems as if I were in
my stockings. Well, I suppose I shall soon be accustomed to it."

Packing a black coat and a few other articles in a hand-bag, and locking
up the clothes he had taken off in his portmanteau, Jack started for Mr.
Merton's. He was dressed in a well-fitting suit of dark tweed, with a
claret-coloured neckerchief with plain gold scarf-ring. Jack's life of
exercise had given him the free use of his limbs--he walked erect, and
his head was well set back on his shoulders; altogether, with his crisp
short waving hair, his good-humoured but resolute face, and his
steadfast look, he was, although not handsome, yet a very
pleasant-looking young fellow.

He soon forgot the fact of his new clothes, except that he was conscious
of walking with a lightness and elasticity strange to him, and in half
an hour rang at the visitors' bell of Mr. Merton's villa.

"A visitor, papa," said Alice, who was sitting near the window of the
drawing-room. "How tiresome, just as we were expecting Jack Simpson. It
is a gentleman. Why, papa!" and she clapped her hands, "it is Jack
himself. I did not know him at first, he looks like a gentleman."

"He is a gentleman," Mr. Merton said; "a true gentleman in thought,
feeling, and speech, and will soon adapt himself to the society he will
meet here. Do not remark upon his dress unless he says something about
it himself."

"Oh, papa, I should not think of such a thing. I am not so thoughtless
as that."

The door was opened and Jack was shown in.

"How are you, Jack? I am glad to see you."

"Thank you, sir, I am always well," Jack said. Then turning to Miss
Merton he as