back. Seems
to me as life's getting to be one jolly row. What with my Sally at
home, and your uncle here, and you always down in the mouth, and Mike
not sticking to his work, things is as miserable as mizzar."

"He's hen-pecked, that's what he is," chuckled Mike, going to the handle
of the crane. "Poor old Jemmy! Hen-pecked, that's what's the matter
with him."

"Let him alone, Mike," said Don quietly.

"Right, Mas' Don," said the man; "but if I was you," he murmured
hoarsely, as Jem went into the warehouse, "I'd strike for liberty. I
knows all about it. When your mother come to live with your uncle she
give him all your father's money, and he put it into the business. I
know. I used to work here when you first come, only a little un, and a
nice little un you was, just after your poor father died."

Don's brow wrinkled as he looked searchingly at the man.

"You've a right to half there is here, Mas' Don; but the old man's
grabbing of it all for his gal, Miss Kitty, and has made your mother and
you reg'lar servants."

"It is not true, Mike. My uncle has behaved very kindly to my mother
and me. He has invested my money, and given me a home when I was left
an orphan."

"_Kick_!"

That is the nearest approach to the sound of Mike's derisive laugh, one
which made the lad frown and dart at him an angry look.

"Why, who told you that, my lad?"

"My mother, over and over again."

"Ah, poor thing, for the sake o' peace and quietness. Don't you believe
it, my lad. You've been werry kind to me, and begged me on again here
when I've been 'most starving, and many's the shillin' you've give me,
Mas' Don, to buy comforts, or I wouldn't say to you what I does now, and
werry welcome a shilling would be to-day, Mas' Don."

"I haven't any money, Mike."

"Got no money, my lad? What a shame, when half of all this here ought
to be yourn. Oh dear, what a cruel thing it seems! I'm very sorry for
you, Mas' Don, that I am, 'specially when I think of what a fine dashing
young fellow like--"

"Don't humbug, Mike."

"Nay, not I, my lad; 'tarn't likely. You know it's true enough. You're
one of the young fellows as is kep' out of his rights. I know what I'd
do if I was you."

"What?"

"Not be always rubbing my nose again a desk. Go off to one o' them
bu'ful foreign countries as I've told you of, where there's gold and
silver and dymons, and birds jus' like 'em; and wild beasts to kill, and
snakes as long as