ter to tell him all about it, and
ask him to give me his advice."

"Ah, it's all very fine," grumbled Esau; "it's always Mr John Dempster
now. You used to make me a friend and ask my advice: now I'm nobody at
all. You always was such a gentleman, and too fine for me."

"Don't talk like that, Esau," I said; "you hurt me."

He turned and caught hold of my hand directly. "I didn't mean it," he
said, huskily. "On'y don't chuck me over. I won't go for a soldier if
you don't want, but let's stick together."

"I should like to, Esau," I said, "for I've no friends but you and Mr
John."

"Oh, I don't know 'bout friends," he said. "I don't want to be friends,
'cause I'm not like you, but let's keep together. I'll do anything you
want, and I'll always stick up for you, same as you did for me."

"I should be an ungrateful brute if I did part from you, Esau, for I
shall never forget how kind you and your mother have always--"

"Don't! don't! don't!" he cried, putting his fingers in his ears. "Now
you're beginning to preach at me, and you know I hate that. I say,
let's call at the auction-rooms and say good-bye to old Dingle.
Dempster won't be there."

I hesitated, and then hurried down the next street with Esau, for I
thought I should like to say a friendly word to the porter, who had
always been pleasant and kind, little thinking how it would influence my
future career.

He was just inside the long sale-room, and he came out to us directly to
shake hands gleefully.

"All right, lads," he cried. "I know all about it. I was there, and
heard every word. Serve him precious well right! Ah, you're lucky
ones. Wish I was out of his service. What are you both going to do?"

"I don't know," I said sadly. "Esau here wants to be a soldier."

"Yes, he always was mad that way. Don't you listen to him."

"Better be a soldier than old Demp's clerk."

"Don't you be too sure, my lad," said Dingle. "There are such things as
drill-sergeants in the army, and they tell me they're a kind of Double
Dempsters. It's awkward for you, Master Gordon. You see, you'll have
to send to the guv'nor for a reference when you try for another place,
and he won't give you one, see if he does."

"No," I said sadly, "there is no chance there. What would you do?"

"Well," he said, taking off his carpet cap, and stroking his thin grey
hair, "it's easy to advise anybody, but it ain't easy to advise right."

"Never mind," I said, "try