ly over the
other, and nothing staying long enough before him to be settled. Although
his business had been fairly large, he had nothing of the faculty of the
captain or the manager, who can let details alone and occupy himself with
principles. He had a stock of copper bolt-stave in the front shop, and
he poked about and pestered the men to know if any of it could be found
melted. Then it occurred to him the next instant, and before the inquiry
about the bolt-stave could be answered, that he had lost his
account-books, and he began to try to recollect what one of his principal
customers owed him. Before his memory was fairly exercised on the
subject it struck him that the men in the foundry--which was
untouched--would not know what to do, and he hurried in, but came out
again without leaving any directions. At last he became so confused that
he would have broken down if Tom had not come to the rescue, and gently
laid hold of his arm.

"Let us go into the Bell"; and into the Bell they went, into the large,
empty coffee-room, very quiet at that time of the morning. "We are
better here," said Tom, "if we want to know what we ought to do. The
first thing is to write to the insurance company."

"Of course, of course!"

"We will do that at once; I will write the letter, and you sign it."

In less than ten minutes this stage of the business was passed.

"The next thing is to find a shop while they are rebuilding."

That was not quite so easy a matter. There was not one in the High
Street to be let. At last an idea struck Tom.

"There is the Moot Hall--underneath it, I mean. We shall have to buy
fittings, but I will have them so arranged that they will do for the new
building. All that is necessary is to obtain leave; but we shall be sure
to get it: only half of it is wanted on market days, and that's the part
that isn't shut off. We'll then write to Birmingham and Sheffield about
the stock. We'd better have a few posters stuck about at once, saying
that business will be carried on in the Hall for the present."

Mr. Furze saw the complexity unravel itself, and the knot in his head
began to loosen, but he did not quite like to reflect that he owed his
relief to Tom, and that Tom had seen his agitation. Accordingly, when a
proof of the poster was brought, he was the master, most particularly the
master, and observed with much dignity and authority that it ought not to
have been set up without the benefit of