ou
are welcome." Then turning to one of the clerks, who wore a green coat
and a gray over-sleeve on the right arm, he announced, "Mr. Wohlfart
enters our office from this day." For an instant the six pens were
silent, and the principal went on to say to Anton, "You must be tired;
Mr. Jordan will show you your room: the rest to-morrow." So saying, he
went back to his office, and the six pens began again with fearful
rapidity.

The gentleman in the green coat rose, drew off his over-sleeve,
carefully folded and locked it up, and invited Anton to follow him.
Anton felt a different man to that he had done ten minutes before; he
had now a home, and belonged to the business. Accordingly, as he passed,
he patted a great bale as though it had been the shoulder of a friend,
at which his conductor turned and benevolently vouchsafed the word
"cotton;" next he rapped a gigantic barrel, and received the information
"currants." He no longer fell over ladders--nay, he boldly pushed one
out of his way, bestowed a friendly greeting upon one of the
leathern-aproned Anakims, and felt pleased to be politely thanked in
return, especially when informed that this was the head porter.

They crossed the court, mounted a well-worn staircase, and then Mr.
Jordan opened the door of a room which he told Anton would most probably
be his, and had been formerly occupied by a friend of his own. It was a
neat little room, with a beautiful stucco cat sitting on the
writing-table, which had been left by the former tenant for the benefit
of his successor.

Mr. Jordan hurried off to the office, where he had to be earliest and
latest of all; and Anton, with the help of a friendly servant, arranged
his room and his dress.

Soon the green coat reappeared, and said that Mr. Schroeter was gone out,
and not to be seen again that day. "Would the new-comer make the
acquaintance of his colleagues? It was not necessary to dress."

Anton followed him down stairs, and Mr. Jordan was just about to knock
at the door of a certain room, when it was opened by a handsome, slender
young man, whose whole appearance made a great impression upon our hero.

He wore a riding-dress, had on a jockey's cap, and a whip in his hand.
"So you are trotting your colt round already?" said the stranger,
laughing. Mr. Jordan looked solemn, and went on to introduce Mr.
Wohlfart, the new apprentice, just arrived; Herr von Fink, son of the
great Hamburg firm, Fink and Becker.

"Heir of