as he had not known for
a long time. He thought of Norbert Franks, and chuckled; of Bertha
Cross, and smiled. For a day or two the toil of the shop was less
irksome. Then came sordid troubles which again overcast the sky. Acting
against his trusty henchman's advice, Will had made a considerable
purchase of goods from a bankrupt stock; and what seemed to be a great
bargain was beginning to prove a serious loss. Customers grumbled about
the quality of articles supplied to them out of this unlucky venture,
and among the dissatisfied was Mrs. Cross, who came and talked for
twenty minutes about some tapioca that had been sent to her, obliging
Mr. Jollyman to make repeated apologies and promises that such a thing
should never occur again. When the querulous-voiced lady at length
withdrew, Will was boiling over with rage.

"Idiot!" he exclaimed, regardless of the fact that Allchin overheard
him.

"You see, sir," remarked the assistant. "It's just as I said; but I
couldn't persuade you."

Will held his lips tight and stared before him.

"There'll be a net loss of ten pounds on that transaction," pursued
Allchin. "It's a principle of honest business, never buy a bankrupt
stock. But you wouldn't listen to me, sir--"

"That'll do, Allchin, that'll do!" broke in the master, quivering with
the restraint he imposed upon himself. "Can't you see I'm not in a mood
for that sort of thing?"

This same day, there was a leakage of gas on the premises, due to bad
workmanship in some new fittings which had cost Will more than he
liked. Then the shop awning gave way, and fell upon the head of a
passer-by, who came into the shop swearing at large and demanding
compensation for his damaged hat. Sundry other things went wrong in the
course of the week, and by closing-time on Saturday night Warburton's
nerves were in a state of tension which threatened catastrophe. He went
to bed at one o'clock; at six in the morning, not having closed his
eves for a moment, he tumbled out again, dressed with fury, and rushed
out of the house.

It was a morning of sunny showers; one moment the stones were covered
with shining moisture, and the next were steaming themselves dry under
unclouded rays. Heedless whither he went, so he did but move quickly
enough, Will crossed the river, and struck southward, till he found
himself by Clapham Junction. The sun had now triumphed; the day would
be brilliant. Feeling already better for his exercise, he stood awhile