n of omnibuses and other traffic from the street
below was almost deafening. Stools and chairs were stacked together in
the middle of the floor, and the waste-paper of yesterday littered the
whole place. Even our own desks were thick with dust.

Under these depressing circumstances we were forced to admit that
possibly the housekeeper was right, and that we had better take a walk.

"It's a nuisance," said I, "for I had to leave one or two things
unfinished yesterday."

"I've a good mind to try," said Jack. "Unless I can catch up my work I
shall have to stay late to-night, and I don't want to do that, as father
is going to try to get away early."

So we dusted our desks as best we could, shut the windows to keep out
the noise, recovered our stools from the assortment in the middle, and
prepared to make the best of it.

"Do you know, Jack," said I, as I was getting out my papers, "it is so
queer to hear you talking of Mr Smith as father? I can hardly realise
it yet."

"No more can I, often," said Jack, "though I am getting more used to the
idea."

"When are you going to take him to Packworth?" I asked.

"I'm not quite sure. He thinks he can get a week at the end of this
month, and I shall try to get the partners to let me take my holiday at
the same time."

"I hope you'll be able to manage it."

"So do I. Poor father is in very low spirits at the prospect of meeting
Mary, I think. You know we shall have to tell her everything."

"Will you? Is it necessary?"

"Oh, yes. At least father says it is. If she were to hear of his story
from any other source, he says he would never dare see her again. It
will be far better to tell her. But I wish it was over."

"So do I," I said. "Poor Mary!"

I had got quite into the way of talking of her to Jack by her Christian
name, as if she were my sister as well as his.

"I suppose," said I, "she will still live with Mrs Shield at
Packworth?"

"Oh, yes, for the present. There's no place to bring her to in London
till we get a little better off."

"I hope that won't be very long," said I.

"I'm afraid father's situation on the staff of the _Banner_ is not a
very--"

"Hush!" I exclaimed, suddenly.

We had remained, so far, in undisturbed possession of the office, and
there was no chance of any new-comer entering without our knowing. But
while Jack was speaking I thought I heard a sound, not on the stairs
outside, but in the partners' room, which ope