though it's three miles," said the Manager. "Well!
take care of the Bank; it appears to me that it has a new Manager!"

He passed out through the swing doors, and a couple of minutes went
by and he did not return, and Reggie began to breathe freely, till the
fear struck him that after all, his efforts had been of no use if Mr.
Bowles, the lame gentleman, had just caught Mr. Gray on the pavement
outside, but even as the thought darted into his mind, the doors swung
open again, and the lame gentleman entered and looked round. "Mr.
Gray?" said he, interrogatively, as Reggie came forward.

"Mr. Gray has just gone down to Muirend to see Mr. Collins, who is
very ill."

"It is very inconvenient of him," said Mr. Bowles irritably, "I wrote
so that he should get the letter by the first post this morning."

Reggie glanced down at the pile of letters he had just brought from
Mr. Gray's room to open.

"It will be here, I expect," he said politely, "can I take your
instructions?"

Mr. Bowles grunted and scowled, but nevertheless he followed Reggie
into the Manager's room and ran through what he had come to say, and
watched Reggie's careful noting down of the points.

"So Lily Jarrold got married yesterday," he said abruptly, as Reggie
finished. "I suppose champagne ran like rivers, and half you fellows
got drunk, and the girls did not know what they were laughing at, eh?
Were _you_ there?"

"I was there," answered Reggie, a trifle stiffly, "it was a very
pretty wedding, and she looked awfully happy."

"Humph!" said the old gentleman, "but wasn't it as I said,
afterwards?"

"I did not stay late--and I am an abstainer," said Reggie, wishing his
visitor would depart. He glanced at the pile of unopened letters he
had brought back with him, and Mr. Bowles intercepted the glance.

"Well! well!" said he, "that's a good hearing, my boy, and I see you
are wishing I'd be off and let you get at your work. Industry is of
the utmost importance, my lad, and you'll rise to be Manager, one
day! Tell Mr. Gray I need not see him till next week as he left such a
capable second. Good morning."

That was over. Reggie saw him out, opened the letters, and went
through the usual routine of his morning work, and welcomed back
his fellow clerk who had been away for the Easter. The clock ticked
peacefully on, till it was past noon, and then at last the swing doors
opened once more to admit the Manager.

He passed straight through to his room,