week I
remain to this day, although I was promised an increase at the end of
twelve months, and I have been on the staff for sixteen. I occasionally
pick up a bit of lineage, and that helps to pan out, you know; but I'm
only hanging on until something better turns up elsewhere, and then
good-bye to the _Guardian_. My ambition is Birmingham."

"Birmingham! Wouldn't you rather like to get to London?"

"Who wouldn't? But I have the sense to know I'm not cut out for Fleet
Street. In any case, no London editor would look at a man from
Wheelton. You must have experience on a good provincial daily before
thinking of London Town."

"I'm surprised, for Mr. Trevor Smith told me of many London editors who
used to be on local papers like--our own."

"Trevor Smith is an ass. He knows as much about journalism as a monkey
knows of algebra. He can't write for nuts. Most of his copy has to be
rewritten by Yardley before it's fit to print."

Henry heard this unflattering description of his friend with some
dismay, but remembered that Trevor had given him a very similar account
of Edgar. He was beginning to know something of that brotherly feeling
which always exists between fellow-craftsmen.

Winton showed himself very companionable, and in the evening took Henry
for a walk round the town, in the course of which they visited the
police station, where he was introduced as "the new _Guardian_ man."
This connection between the Press and the Police was one to which Henry
would yet learn to attach much importance.

On the Sunday he attended church with Mr. Winton and Edgar in the
morning, and would have gone again in the evening if Edgar and his
father had been so disposed, but it seemed to be the rule of the house
for the female side to attend the evening service, as in the morning
they were engaged in household duties. Edgar confessed to Henry that he
didn't reckon much of church-going, and only went to please the dad. He
further avowed that he thought religion a lot of rot, and that most
journalists were atheists. He had heard that George Augustus Sala
believed in eternal punishment, but that was about all the religion he
knew of among knights of the pen.

Henry, who had been reared in the quiet atmosphere of a church-loving
home, and had never listened to doubts about religion, heard Edgar's
opinions with some dismay, but did not venture to dispute them. He had
an uneasy feeling that the more he saw of men the less they justified