se it's all right. Tell him I say as otherwise it's all
right. And ask him if he'll have it printed in silver, and how many he
wants, and show him this sample envelope. Now, d'ye understand?"

"Yes," said Edwin, in a tone to convey, not disrespectfully, that there
was nothing to understand. Curious, how his father had the air of
bracing all his intellect as if to a problem!

"Then ye'll take it to Big James, and he can start Chawner on it. Th'
job's promised for Monday forenoon."

"Will Big James be working?" asked Edwin, for it was Saturday afternoon,
when, though the shop remained open, the printing office was closed.

"They're all on overtime," said Mr Clayhanger; and then he added, in a
voice still lower, and with a surreptitious glance at Miss Ingamells,
the shop-woman, who was stolidly enfolding newspapers in wrappers at the
opposite counter, "See to it yourself, now. He won't want to talk to
her about a thing like that. Tell him I told you specially. Just let
me see how well ye can do it."

"Right!" said Edwin; and to himself, superciliously: "It might be life
and death."

"We ought to be doing a lot o' business wi' Enoch Peake, later on," Mr
Clayhanger finished, in a whisper.

"I see," said Edwin, impressed, perceiving that he had perhaps been
supercilious too soon.

Mr Clayhanger returned his spectacles to their case, and taking his hat
from its customary hook behind him, over the job-files, consulted his
watch and passed round the counter to go. Then he stopped.

"I'm going to Manchester," he murmured confidentially. "To see if I can
pick up a machine as I've heard of."

Edwin was flattered. At the dinner-table Mr Clayhanger had only
vouchsafed that he had a train to catch, and would probably not be in
till late at night.

The next moment he glimpsed Darius through the window, his arms
motionless by his sides and sticking slightly out; hurrying in the
sunshine along Wedgwood Street in the direction of Shawport station.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWO.

So this was business! It was not the business he desired and meant to
have; and he was uneasy at the extent to which he was already entangled
in it; but it was rather amusing, and his father had really been very
friendly. He felt a sense of importance.

Soon afterwards Clara ran into the shop to speak to Miss Ingamells. The
two chatted and giggled together.

"Father's gone to Manche