ou about that price that would be suitable?"

Oh! how my heart fluttered, for I could guess by this time what was
coming.

Mr Argent looked profound for a minute, and then said, "There's one
thing, I think, would do."

"What?" asked the deputation.

He pulled me out of the window and laid me on the counter.

"A watch! Dear me! we thought of all sorts of things, but not once of
that!"

"It would be a suitable present," said one of the party; "but this one
is L4 10."

"That needn't matter," said Mr Argent; "if you like it my wife and I
will settle about the difference."

"That's very kind of you, Mr Argent. Does any one know if George has a
watch?"

"I know he hasn't," said one of the party. "And what's more, I've heard
him say he wishes he had one."

"And I can answer for it he's been looking in at my window at this very
one every day for the last month," said the silversmith.

"Well, what do you say to getting this, then? We needn't ask you if
it's a good one, Mr Argent."

"No, you needn't, sir," replied the smiling Mr Argent, who, as I had
remained run down since the day he bought me, could not well have
answered the question more definitely.

"You'll clean it up, will you, and set it going, and send it to me this
afternoon?" said the curate;--"and perhaps you would like to come with
us to Reader's cottage this evening, when we are going to present it?"

Mr Argent promised to form one of the party, and the deputation then
left.

I was swiftly subjected to all the cleaning and polishing which brushes,
wash-leather, and whiting could give me. I was wound up and set to the
right time, and a neat piece of black watered ribbon was attached to my
neck, and then I waited patiently till the time came for my presentation
to my new master.

The gamekeeper's cottage to which I was conducted in state that evening
was not an imposing habitation. It boasted of only three rooms, and
just as many occupants. George, the hero of the occasion, was the son
of its humble owner and his wife, and, as will have been gathered, had
turned out a prodigy. From his earliest days he had displayed a
remarkable aptitude for study. Having once learned to read at the
village school, he became insatiable after books, and devoured all that
came within his reach.

Happily he fell into the hands of a wise and able guide, the clergyman
of the parish, who, early recognising the cleverness of the boy, strove
to turn his thirst