position. In the meanwhile he must come to Tottenham not oftener
than once a week. To this Waymark agreed, glad of any respite.

He returned to his lodgings in a state of nervous misery. Fortunately,
he was not left to his thoughts; in a few minutes a knock at his door
announced a visitor in the person of Mr. O'Gree. The Irishman exhibited
his wonted liveliness, and at once began to relate an incident to the
disadvantage of his archenemy.

"Faith," he cried, "I'd have given a trifle if ye could have heard the
conversation between Tootle and me, just after breakfast yesterday. The
boys were filing out of the room, when, 'Mr. O'Gree!' cries
Pendy.--'Sir!' I reply.--'The boys were called late this morning, I
hear.'--'No such thing, sir,' I assure 'um. 'Half-past six to the
minute, by my watch.'--'Oh, _your_ watch, Mr. O'Gree,' cries the old
reprobate. 'I fear your watch doesn't keep very good time.'--'Sure,
you're in the right, sir,' said I;' it's been losing a little of late;
so only last night I stopped it at half-past six, to make sure it would
show me the right calling-time this morning.' And, when I'd said that,
I just nod my head, as much as to say, 'There's one for ye, me boy!'
and walk off as jaunty as a Limerick bantam."

Then, after a burst of merriment, O'Gree suddenly fixed his face in a
very grave expression.

"I'm resolved, Waymark, I'm resolved!" he exclaimed. "At midsummer I
break my chains, and stand erect in the dignity of a free man. I've
said it often, but now I mean it. Sally urges me to do ut, and Sally
never utters a worrud that isn't pure wisdom."

"Well, I think she's right. I myself should prefer a scavenger's
existence, on the whole. But have you thought any further of the other
scheme?"

"The commercial undertaking? We were talking it over the other night.
Sally says: Borrow the money and risk ut. And I think she's in the
right. If you enter the world of commerce, you must be prepared for
speculation. We looked over the advertisements in a newspaper, just to
get an idea, and we calculated the concern could be set afloat for
seventy-five pounds. Out of that we could pay a quarter's rent, and
stock the shop. Sally's been behind the counter a good bit of late, and
she's getting an insight into that kind of thing. Wonderful girl,
Sally! Put her in Downing Street for a week, and she'd be competent to
supplant the Premier!"

"You have decided for a chandler's?"

"Yes; we neither of us know m