a little more energetically, but never spoke.

"You 've done with the service, I suppose?" said Clowes, after a while.

"I'm afraid so," said Conway, sighing.

"Well, _he_"--and he jerked his thumb towards Dunn's room--"he is the
man to help you to something snug. He can give away places every hour
of the day. Ay, sir," said he, warming, "he can make anything, from an
archbishop to a barony constable."

"I rather fear that my capacity for employment might not be found very
remarkable. I have idle habits and ways," said Conway, smiling.

"Bad things, my friend,--bad things for any man, but especially for a
poor one. I myself began life in an humble way,--true, I assure you; but
with industry, zeal, and attention, I am what you see me."

"That _is_ encouraging, certainly," said Conway, gravely.

"It is so, and I mention it for your advantage."

Charles Conway now arose, and threw the half-smoked cigar into the fire.
The movement betokened impatience, and, sooth to say, he was half angry
with himself; for, while disposed to laugh at the vanity and conceit of
the worthy butler, he still felt that he was his guest, and that such
ridicule was ill applied to one whose salt he had eaten.

"You're not going without seeing him?" said Clowes. "He 's sure to be
in before noon. We are to receive the Harbor Commissioners exactly at
twelve."

"I have a call to make, and at some distance off in the country, this
morning."

"Well, if I can be of any use to you, just tell me," said Clowes,
good-naturedly. "My position here--one of trust and confidence, you may
imagine--gives me many an opportunity to serve a friend; and I like you.
I was taken with your manner as you came into the hall this morning, and
I said to myself, 'There 's good stuff in that young fellow, whoever he
is.' And I ain't wrong. You have some blood in you, I'll be bound."

"We used to be rather bumptious about family," said Conway, laughing;
"but I suspect the world has taught us to get rid of some of our
conceit."

"Never mind the world. Pride of birth is a generous prejudice. I
have never forgotten that my grandfather, on the mother's side, was a
drysalter. But can I be of any use to you? that's the question."

"I 'm inclined to think not; though I 'm just as grateful to you. Mr.
Dunn asked me here this morning, I suspect, to talk over the war with
me. Men naturally incline to hear what an eyewitness has to say, and he
may have fancied I could have