ese words, there was a touch of earnestness
in the boy's voice which struck a sympathetic chord in Reginald's
nature, and drew him mysteriously to this new hour-old acquaintance. He
told him of his own hard fortunes, and by what means he had come down to
his present position. Gedge listened to it all eagerly.

"Were you really captain of the fifth at your school?" said he, almost
reverentially. "I say! what an awful drop this must be! You must feel
as if you'd sooner be dead."

"I do sometimes," said Reginald.

"I know I would," replied Gedge, solemnly, "if I was you. Was that
other fellow your brother, then?"

"Yes."

Gedge mused a bit, and then laughed quietly.

"How beautifully you two shut up Barber between you just now," he said;
"it's the first snub he's had since I've been here, and all the fellows
swear by him. I say, Cruden, it's a merciful thing for me you've come.
I was bound to go to the dogs if I'd gone on as I was much longer."

Reginald brightened. It pleased him just now to think any one was glad
to see him, and the spontaneous way in which this boy had come under his
wing won him over completely.

"We must manage to stick together," he said. "Horace, you know, is
working in another part of the office. It's awfully hard lines, for we
set our minds on being together. But it can't be helped; and I'm glad,
any way, you're here, young 'un."

The young 'un beamed gratefully by way of response.

The paragraph by this time was nearly set-up, and the conversation was
interrupted by the critical operation of lifting the "matter" from the
stick and transferring it to a "galley," a feat which the experienced
"Magog" accomplished very deftly, and greatly to the amazement of his
companion. Just as it was over, and Reginald was laughingly hoping he
would not soon be expected to arrive at such a pitch of dexterity, Mr
Durfy walked up.

"So that's what you call doing your work, is it? playing the fool, and
getting in another man's way. Is that all you've done?"

Reginald glared at him, and answered,--

"I'm not playing the fool."

"Hold your tongue and don't answer me, you miserable puppy! Let me see
what you have done."

"I've been learning the boxes in the case," said Reginald.

Mr Durfy sneered.

"You have, have you? That's what you've been doing the last hour, I
suppose. Since you've been so industrious, pick me out a lower-case
`x,' do you hear?"

Reginald made a vague dive at