hose place of business was at last pointed
out to them. They had passed it once before, but the name on the side
of the door was so obliterated by time that it was scarcely legible.

"Now, Owen, you go in, and success attend you," said John, shaking him
by the hand, as if they were about to separate for an indefinite period.
"Do not be afraid, I will not desert you!"

Owen, mustering courage, entered the dingy-looking office. John
remained outside while Owen presented himself, as has been already
described, to Simon Fluke.

Faithful John walked up and down, keeping a watchful eye on the door, in
case Owen might be summarily ejected, and resolved not to quit his post
until he had ascertained to a certainty that the boy was likely to be
well cared for. "If the old man disowns him, I will take him to some
London sights, and then we will go back to Fenside, and let him turn
farmer if he likes, and I'll help him; or it may be that David will hear
of something more to his advantage, or perhaps find out some of his
other relatives. David is as keen as a ferret, and he'll not let a
chance pass of serving the lad." John's patience was seriously tried.
He saw seafaring men of various grades pass in and out, corroborating
the account of the flourishing business of Paul Kelson, Fluke and
Company, and he concluded, while Simon Fluke was engaged with them, that
young Owen would have but small chance of being attended to.

"Well, I can but wait until they are about to close the place; then, if
Owen does not come out, I must go in and look for him," thought John.
He was resolved, however, not to do anything which might interfere with
the boy's interests; it took a good deal to put John out of temper.

Meantime Owen's patience was undergoing a severe trial. The two
brown-coated old gentlemen appeared to him to be a long time looking
over those big books. They had just concluded, when a junior clerk came
in to say that Captain Truck wished to see Mr Fluke. Glancing at Owen
as he passed, Mr Fluke hurried into his private room, while the old
clerk, tucking the big books under his arm, and filling his hands with
the papers, left the office. He stopped as he was passing young Owen.

"Sit down there, boy," he said, pointing to a bench near the door; "Mr
Fluke will speak to you when he is disengaged."

Several persons came in, however, before Captain Truck had gone away.
They were admitted in succession to speak to Mr Fluke; so