he general good--a self-denial which
brought me more kicks than halfpence, but which, all the same, served to
establish my footing as a regular member of the Export fraternity at
Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's.

Smith, I discovered, was let in for something of the same work with the
Imports, but to a much smaller extent. Indeed, he had so much less of
it than me that I one day questioned him on the subject.

"I say, Jack, it seems to me the Exports want a jolly lot more things
done for them than the Imports. To-day I've got to go to Mudie's to
change a book, then I've to get a scarf-pin mended for Crow, and buy a
pair of flannel drawers for Wallop, and go and offer two shillings for a
five-shilling mariner's compass at the stores for Doubleday. I shall
have to get my grub when I can to-day, I expect."

"Oh!" said Jack, "the Imports wanted to let me in for that sort of
thing, but I didn't see the use of it, and told them so."

"What did they say?" asked I, astonished at his boldness.

"They didn't like it, of course," said Jack; "but I don't see why they
shouldn't do their own jobs."

"Well," said I, "I wouldn't mind if I could stick out too, but somehow
I'm in for it now."

And off I started on my round of errands.

I was, however, greatly impressed with Jack's cool treatment of the
whole affair. I would as soon have dreamed of refusing to go an errand
for Doubleday or Wallop as of flying. The office, I knew full well,
would soon be made pretty hot for me if I did, and it was a marvel how
Jack apparently got over the difficulty so easily. He was one of those
fellows, you know, who seem to care absolutely nothing about what others
think of them. It's all one if fellows hate them or love them, and as
for being influenced by any desire to cultivate the good graces of one's
neighbours, you might as well expect a bear to cultivate the good graces
of a porpoise.

I soon began to suspect that Jack was not altogether comfortable in his
new quarters, although he never hinted to the contrary. There were
vague rumours which came across the partition of uncomfortableness which
silently went on, and in which Jack took a prominent part; and an event
which happened just a week after our arrival made the thing certain.

One morning, Mr Barnacle, apparently in a great hurry, looked in at the
Import door and called out, "Smith, make me three copies of Elmore's
last consignment, at once, on foreign paper."

"Yes, si