isn't dinner-time?
They said it was always dinner-time here after twelve o'clock. I'll go
see." It was long after twelve when he went down to the office to
stamp and mail his letter.

"Mr. Ogden," said the clerk, giving Jack an envelope, "here's a note
from Mr. Magruder. He left--"

"Ogden," said a deep, full voice just behind him, "didn't you stay
there too long? I am told you sat in the Speaker's chair."

Jack wheeled about, blushing crimson. The Governor was not standing
still, but was walking steadily through the office, surrounded by a
group of dignified men. It was necessary to walk with them in order to
reply to the question, and Jack did so.

"I sat there half a minute," he answered. "I hope it didn't hurt me."

"I'm glad you got out so soon, Jack," replied the Governor approvingly.

"But I heard also that you think of learning the Governor business,"
went on the great man. "Now, don't you do it. It is not large pay,
and you'd be out of work most of the time. Be a blacksmith, or a
carpenter, or a tailor, or a printer."

"Well, Governor," said Jack, "I was brought up a blacksmith; and I've
worked at carpentering, and printing too; and I've edited a newspaper;
but--"

There he was cut short by the laughter from those dignified men.

"Good-bye, Jack," said the Governor, shaking hands with him. "I hope
you'll have a good time in the city. You'll be sent back to the
Capitol some day, perhaps."

Jack returned to the clerk's counter to mail his letter, and found that
gentleman looking at him as if he wondered what sort of a boy he might
be.

[Illustration: _The hotel clerk looked at Jack_.]

"That young fellow knows all the politicians," said the clerk to one of
the hotel proprietors. "He can't be so countrified as he looks."

After dinner, Jack returned to his room for a long look at the
guide-book. He went through it rapidly to the last leaf, and then
threw it down, remarking:

"I never was so tired! I'll take a walk around and see Albany a little
more; and I'll not be sorry when the boat goes. I'd like to see Mary
and the rest for an hour or two. I think they'd like to see me coming
in, too."

Jack sauntered on through street after street, getting a clearer idea
of what a city was.

He walked so far that he had some difficulty in returning to the hotel,
but finally he found it without asking directions.

Soon after, Jack brought down his satchel, said good-bye to the very
pol