ed the
attention of these gentlemen, or desecrated the peaceful scene of their
labours. You found Christians and gentlemen, sir!"

"I paid for my place like the rest," said Swinney. "Didn't my governor
take sha-?"

"Silence, sir! Your worthy father did take shares in this establishment,
which will yield him one day an immense profit. He _did_ take shares,
sir, or you never would have been here. I glory in saying that every one
of my young friends around me has a father, a brother, a dear relative or
friend, who is connected in a similar way with our glorious enterprise;
and that not one of them is there but has an interest in procuring, at a
liberal commission, other persons to join the ranks of our Association.
_But_, sir, I am its chief. You will find, sir, your appointment signed
by me; and in like manner, I, John Brough, annul it. Go from us,
sir!--leave us--quit a family that can no longer receive you in its
bosom! Mr. Swinney, I have wept--I have prayed, sir, before I came to
this determination; I have taken counsel, sir, and am resolved. _Depart
from out of us_!

"Not without three months' salary, though, Mr. B.: that cock won't
fight!"

"They shall be paid to your father, sir."

"My father be hanged! I tell you what, Brough, I'm of age; and if you
don't pay me my salary, I'll arrest you,--by Jingo, I will! I'll have
you in quod, or my name's not Bob Swinney!"

"Make out a cheque, Mr. Roundhand, for the three months' salary of this
perverted young man."

"Twenty-one pun' five, Roundhand, and nothing for the stamp!" cried out
that audacious Swinney. "There it is, sir, _re_-ceipted. You needn't
cross it to my banker's. And if any of you gents like a glass of punch
this evening at eight o'clock, Bob Swinney's your man, and nothing to
pay. If Mr. Brough _would_ do me the honour to come in and take a whack?
Come, don't say no, if you'd rather not!"

We couldn't stand this impudence, and all burst out laughing like mad.

"Leave the room!" yelled Mr. Brough, whose face had turned quite blue;
and so Bob took his white hat off the peg, and strolled away with his
"tile," as he called it, very much on one side. When he was gone, Mr.
Brough gave us another lecture, by which we all determined to profit; and
going up to Roundhand's desk put his arm round his neck, and looked over
the ledger.

"What money has been paid in to-day, Roundhand?" he said, in a very kind
way.

"The widow, sir, came with