one of them had noticed him, and if
they had, they would only think he had been sent on an errand by his
uncle. With a loudly-beating heart he entered his uncle's room fairly
trembling in every limb, the ominous silence of every one having
completely terrified him.

Mr. Gregory was writing, and only raised his eyes for one moment as
Bertie took his seat, but he looked very stern, and without doubt
there would be a storm in a few moments, for Bertie was not a
stranger to the rigid rules of the office. At the end of ten minutes
the busy pen was laid aside, a heap of letters pushed into the
basket, and by a motion of his hand Mr. Gregory summoned his nephew
to stand before him.

"You are just two hours and a quarter late," he said, glancing at his
watch. "Will you kindly explain to me where you have been and what
you have been doing?"

"Yes, Uncle Gregory;" and in a very quavering voice Bertie recounted
every incident that occurred from the moment he left the office for
luncheon till he returned, dwelling least on his interview with Mr.
Murray and most on the necessity of overtaking the gentleman who had
lost the bag. He then explained what he had heard in the train in the
morning, and how important it was that the papers should be signed at
once. But Mr. Gregory's face grew graver and sterner as he listened,
and instead of praising Bertie, he looked as if he could have
cheerfully given him a good thrashing.

"You should have brought that bag to me, sir; you should have
remembered that during office hours your time is mine. I am very
angry with you, Herbert Rivers, and, what is still worse, very much
disappointed. I imagined that you were a steady, straightforward boy,
who meant to profit by the exceptional opportunities given you. I
fancied you were worthy of the kindness I have bestowed upon you, and
I find you a clever, artful, designing creature. Why did you say you
preferred to come back to business instead of going with your
cousins? why did you come, boy? To cross, thwart, annoy me? In my
opinion, you came simply to ingratiate yourself with Mr. Murray, and
your conduct to-day has proved it. Why should you find his papers?
Why should you take them to him instead of to me--your uncle and
guardian, as well as your master? I tell you again that it's my
opinion you are a bad, artful designing boy, and I'm very sorry I
ever set your foot on the high road to fortune, for I'm sadly afraid
you will turn out a disgrace