.
Barney was dismissed from his situation! The manager wrote a courteous
explanatory letter to the effect that an inexcusable escapade--the last
of a long series--made it necessary for the lad's connection with the
office to cease. He regretted this conclusion, not only from the fact
that his old friend Mr Loftus would have cause for disappointment, but
also, he might add, for the sake of the boy himself, who had many good
points and was a favourite among his companions. If he might be
pardoned for making a suggestion, an office desk was hardly the right
position for a youth of so much spirit. Given more congenial work, he
would no doubt do better. It was a kindly letter, and one which made
its import as palatable as possible. Philippa sighed, and said, "Just
what I have been thinking! It was too hard on the boy to expect him to
settle to that humdrum life. Perhaps this is the best thing that could
have happened."

But Steve was not disposed to take such a lenient view of the matter.

"If Barney had told us honestly that he could not stand it, we would
have done our best to find another opening. But to be dismissed like
this--to be turned away at an hour's notice--it is disgraceful! Uncle
Loftus will have every right to be angry. `An inexcusable escapade'!
What can that refer to, I wonder?"

Theo covered her lips with her hands, for even at that moment she could
not restrain a smile at the recollection.

"I think I know. Barney told me the night before last. One of the
clerks bought an alarm and left it on his desk while he went out to
lunch. He had previously announced that he was going to meet his
fiancee in town, and take her to a concert after dinner. Barney got
hold of the alarm and set it for nine o'clock. He knew the poor
creatures would be sitting in cheap seats, and that there would be no
cloak-room for their things. The man would put the clock in his hat
under the seat, and at the appointed time, _Cr-r-r-r-r_, off it would
go! He would not be able to stop it. I asked Barney last night what
had happened, but he would not tell me much. I suppose he was in low
spirits about his dismissal. The alarm had gone off in the midst of a
classical concerto, and the people around had been so cross that the
clerk had to rush out with it as fast as he could go. He was very
angry, and went straight to the manager to complain."

"Oh! oh! how naughty!" cried Philippa. Hope was laughing softly to
her