d to say, "does he mean--"

"Hold your tongue, sir," broke out the virtuous Doubleday. "Didn't you
hear Mr Barnacle say you were to get no assistance? What do you mean
by it? I'm ashamed of you; so's Wallop."

"I shall mention the matter to the governor," observed Wallop, with a
grin at his ally.

"Oh, don't," I said. "I beg your pardon!" It was evidently hopeless to
expect any light from without on the problem, so I decided for myself I
would include the account in question. I was just beginning to copy it
out, and to shut my ears to the chaff that was going on around me, when
the counting-house door opened, and the solemn face of my friend Smith
appeared, asking if Messrs. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company were at home.

His quick eye detected me at once, and I felt very uncomfortable, lest
he should misunderstand the state of affairs and jump to the conclusion
that I had been already engaged by the firm. At all risks I determined
to put him right on this point.

"I'm not taken on, Jack," I said, before his question had been answered.
"They've given me--"

"I'll give you a box on the ears, young gentleman," broke out the amazed
Doubleday. "You're forgetting yourself. Go on with your work. Now
then, young hop-o'-my-thumb," said he, addressing himself to Smith,
"what do you want?"

Smith solemnly produced a letter, which he exhibited to the senior
clerk.

"Oh, you're after the place too, are you, young bull's-eye?"

"Yes," said Smith, solemnly, and apparently not aware that the last
expression had been intended as a joke.

"Why don't you laugh, eh?" cried Wallop; "we all laugh here when Doubles
makes a joke; don't we, Crow?"

Mr Crow, thus appealed to, replied, "Oh, of course. We don't get much
laughing, though."

Mr Doubleday waxed red in the face at this, and rounded on Smith.

"Don't go staring at me, do you hear? Look in the fireplace, can't you?
and then you won't set alight to anything. Do you know this kid here?"
added he, pointing at me over his shoulder.

"Yes," replied Smith.

"Do you know he's after the place?"

"Yes," said Smith.

"Then what do you want to come after it for? One of you's enough, ain't
it?"

Smith stared solemnly at the speaker, whereat that virtuous individual
waxed once more very wroth.

"Look here, if you can't cast your eyes somewhere else, young fellow,
I'll cast them for you, so now. Why don't you answer my question?"

"I was told to be here at hal