f-past ten," replied Jack.

"Then what do you mean by coming at twenty-eight past, eh, you young
ruffian? Stay outside the door till the right time."

Smith obeyed solemnly, and for exactly two minutes remained outside. At
the end of that period he returned.

Mr Doubleday, evidently perplexed for the moment how to get a rise out
of him, announced him to the partners, and I saw him vanish into the
inner-room.

"I say, Wallop," said Doubleday, when he had disappeared, "I hope
they're not going to take on a couple of them."

My heart bounded as I listened. The bare suggestion was delightful.

"I hope not," said Wallop. "I don't see what they want _one_ for."

"Oh, I do," said Crow (who I supposed had hitherto been the junior),
"he'll be jolly useful, you know, running errands, and all that."

"All I can say is, unless he does it better than you, he'll be very
little use."

"There you go," said Crow, in a sulk. "The more a fellow does for you
the more you growl. You see if I get you any more cheap neckties. I'm
always ashamed, as it is, to ask for ninepenny sailor's knots and one-
and-twopenny kid gloves at the shop."

"Tell the truth--they're one-and-three. I suppose you get one-and-
twopenny and pocket the odd penny!"

This pleasant recrimination might have proceeded I know not how long,
greatly to the detriment of my task, had not some one at the other desk
changed the subject.

"Don't you fret, you there," said he, "the junior's not for you at all.
He's for the imports. I told the governor we wanted a boy in our
department last week."

"You did!" exclaimed Doubleday. "Why, I told him we couldn't possibly
do without more help here in the exports a fortnight ago."

I don't know if any one saw my face when this glorious announcement was
made. I could have danced on my desk for joy! Just suppose--suppose it
should turn out that Jack Smith should be taken on in the export
department and I in the import--or the other way round! I could hardly
contain myself at the bare idea. Wouldn't I be glad! I would get
Wallop one-and-fourpenny gloves and only charge him one-and-three for
them, to signalise the joyous event. I would let myself out as a slave
to the entire office, if only Jack Smith and I were both taken on! How
was he getting on in the partners' room? I wondered. I hoped--

"I suppose you've done," said Doubleday, looking round at this point;
"if so you can hook it."

"I haven't quite