is companions, keeping in that position
till his instrument was properly separated and replaced in its case,
whose lid he closed, and then turned the key.

"I'm ready," he cried, facing round and buttoning his jacket over the
little mahogany case.

"Do you take that shepherd's pipe to bed with you?" said Ingleborough
scornfully.

"Generally," replied the fat-looking clerk innocently. "You see, it's
so nice when one wakes early, and I have learned to blow so softly now
that I can often get an hour's practice before I have my morning's
bath."

"How delightful for the other boarders! You're at Dick Tomlin's house,
aren't you?"

"Yes," said Anson.

"Have they any room for another boarder, Sim?"

"I--I really don't know, but I'll ask, if you like, this evening."

"No, no; don't, please," cried Ingleborough. "Perhaps it might be too
strong for me. I ought to go through a course of bagpipes first."

Anson had fastened two buttons of his jacket so as to hold the
flute-case from slipping, and now he fastened another button, smiling
pleasantly the while.

"That's meant for a joke," he said.

"Quite right," cried Ingleborough abruptly. "Come along."

He stepped out, closely followed by West, and Anson called after them:
"With you directly," as the door swung to.

"Don't do that again," whispered West.

"What?"

"Say anything to chaff old Anson. Did you see how he behaved?"

"I saw him smile like a Chinese mandarin ornament. That's all."

"I saw him smile and look smooth; but he can't bear a joke. His hands
were all of a tremble as he buttoned up his jacket, and there was a
peculiar look in his eye. It's not good policy to make enemies."

"Nonsense! He's a poor slack-baked animal. I wonder they ever had him
here."

West glanced back; but Anson had not yet left the office.

"Relative of one of the directors," said West quickly; "and I've noticed
several things lately to make me think he does not like us."

"Oh, if you come to that," said Ingleborough, "so have I. That's quite
natural, for we don't like him. One can't; he's so smooth and soft.
But why doesn't he come? I'll just give him a minute after we get up to
the compound gate, and if he is not there then he'll have to stay
outside."

"Here he comes," cried West, and the next minute their fellow-clerk
joined them, just as they got up to a gate in the high fence of the
enclosure where the Kaffir workers about the diamond-mines were kept