s a wise woman," answered Mr Fluke; "if she were not, she could
not manage my house. Now, boy, finish your breakfast, and be prepared
to start with me in ten minutes."

Owen lost no time in getting ready.

"Come along," he heard Mr Fluke shout; and hurrying out of the room
where he was waiting, he found that gentleman descending the steps.

"Stay, you have forgotten your umbrella. What are you thinking about,
Mr Fluke, this morning?" exclaimed Kezia, handing it to him as she
spoke.

Mr Fluke tucked it under his arm, and taking Owen by the hand they set
off.

"Do not dawdle on the way back, and take the coach if it rains hard,"
cried Kezia, shouting after them.

They walked the whole distance at a fair pace, which Owen could easily
maintain. He was glad of the exercise, although he did not like passing
through the narrow and dirty streets at the further end of his walk,
where squalor and wretchedness appeared on every side. Mr Fluke being
so used to it, was not moved by what they beheld.

"Surely something ought to be done for these poor people," thought Owen.
"If my father had been here, he would have spent every hour of the day
in visiting among them, and trying to relieve their distress." Owen was
not aware that much of the misery he witnessed arose from the drunken
and dissipated habits of the husbands, and but too often of the wives
also.

On their arrival at the office, which had just before been opened, Mr
Fluke handed Owen over to Mr Tarwig, who at once set him to work.
There was plenty to do. Two clerks had recently left; their places had
not been supplied. Owen was therefore kept hard at work the greater
part of the day, and a short time only allowed him for eating the dinner
which Kezia Crump had provided. He was better off, however, than most
of the clerks, who had only a piece of bread to eat if they remained in
the office, or if they went out, had to take a very hurried, ill-dressed
meal at a cookshop. Some, indeed, were tempted to imbibe instead a
glass of rum or gin, thus commencing a bad habit, which increased on
those who indulged in it.

The weather was fine, and Owen walked backwards and forwards every day
with Mr Fluke. One day a box arrived marked private, and addressed to
S. Fluke, Esquire. On glancing at the contents, Mr Fluke had it again
closed, and that evening he went away earlier than usual, a porter
carrying the box to the nearest coach-stand. Owen was saved his long