inst
the parchment and paper on which they were employed. When Mr. Moncton
entered the office, a short, stout, middle-aged man swung himself round
on his high stool and fronted us; but the moment he recognized his
superior, he rose respectfully to receive him.

Mr. Moncton took him apart, and they entered into a deep and earnest
conversation: of which, I am certain, from the significant glances
which, from time to time, they directed towards me, I formed the
principal topic.

At length the conference was over, and my uncle left the office without
giving me a parting word or glance. When he was fairly out of hearing,
all the clerks gathered round me.

"Who is he?"

"Mr. Moncton's nephew," was the short man's reply to the eager
questioners.

"Is he sent here to be a spy?"

"To learn the profession."

"_That babe!_ Is the man mad. It will kill the child to chain _him_ to
the desk all day."

"Poor fellow; he is the orphan son of his brother," said another. "I
have seen him at church with Mrs. Moncton."

"Well, Robert Moncton is a hard man," said a third.

"Hush! gentlemen," interposed Mr. Bassett, the senior clerk. "It is not
right to make such remarks in the lad's hearing. Mr. Moncton doubtless
does for the best. Come, my little fellow, you and I must be good
friends. Your uncle has placed you under my charge, to initiate you
into all the mysteries of the law. I have no doubt we shall get on
famously together. But you must be diligent and work hard. Your uncle
hates idlers; he is a strict master, but one of the ablest lawyers in
London. Let me tell you, that to be articled to him is a fortune in
itself."

A far-off, indistinct hope of freedom through this channel, presented
itself to my bewildered mind. I thanked Mr. Bassett warmly for his
proffered aid, and told him that I would do my best to deserve his good
opinion.

From that day, I became an office drudge, condemned to copy the same
unintelligible, uninteresting law forms, from early morning until late
at night. Mr. Bassett, a quiet, methodical, business man, was kind in
his own peculiar way. He had a large family, and perhaps felt a
paternal sympathy in my early introduction to the labours and cares of
life. He often commended my diligence, and mentioned me in very
handsome terms to Mr. Moncton; but from that gentleman I never received
a word of praise--weeks and months often passed without his speaking to
me. I was even debarred from spending with