illing to oblige as not to think of
the ridicule that might attach to his kindness. "My servant will go for
it," said he; "just pull that bell, will you, and I 'll send him. Is
not it strange how I could have done this?" continued he, still bent on
explaining away his failure; "what a nose I shall have to-morrow! Eh!
what's that? It's Sir Harry's bell ringing away furiously! Was there
ever the like of this! The only day he should have come for the last
eight months!" The bell now continued to ring violently, and Damer had
nothing for it but to huddle on his coat and rush away to answer the
summons.

Though not more than ten minutes absent, Tony thought the time very
long; in reality be felt anxious about the poor fellow, and eager to
know that his disaster had not led to disgrace.

"Never so much as noticed it," said Darner,--"was so full of other
matters. I suspect," added he, in a lower tone,--"I suspect we are going
out."

"Out where?" asked Tony, with simplicity.

"Out of office, out of power," replied the other, half testily; then
added in a more conciliatory voice, "I 'll tell you why I think so. He
began filling up all the things that are vacant. I have just named
two colonial secretaries, a chief justice, an auditor-general, and an
inspector of convicts. I thought of that for _you_, and handed him your
letter; but before he broke the seal he had filled up the place."

"So then he has read the letter?"

"Yes, he read it twice; and when I told him you were here in waiting, he
said, 'Tell him not to go; I 'll see him.'"

The thought of presenting himself bodily before the great man made
Tony feel nervous and uncomfortable; and after a few moments of fidgety
uneasiness, he said, "What sort of person is he,--what is he like?"

"Well," said Damer, who now stood over a basin, sponging his eye with
cold water, "he's shy--very shy--but you 'd never guess it; for he has
a bold, abrupt sort of way with him; and he constantly answers his own
questions, and if the replies displease him, he grows irritable. You 've
seen men like that?"

"I cannot say that I have."

"Then it's downright impossible to say when he's in good humor with one,
for he 'll stop short in a laugh and give you such a pull up!"

"That is dreadful!" exclaimed Tony.

"_I_ can manage him! They say in the office I 'm the only fellow that
ever could manage him. There goes his bell,--that's for you; wait here,
however, till I come back."

Darne