he
himself had nothing, or next to nothing, to pay. By hard saving during
the six months he had managed to save a sovereign, but of this only last
week he had spent the greater part in boots and clothing. Now his
worldly wealth consisted of four shillings! He was down early that
morning, and was relieved to find that Mrs Trimble was in the parlour
alone, without her son. The good lady was in an amiable mood. The
school was getting on, and something told her that it was not greatly
due either to her own exertions or the influence of Jonah. Therefore,
being a mathematical old lady, she subtracted herself and Jonah from the
present school staff, and came to the conclusion that Jeffreys must have
had a hand in the improvement.

"Young man," said she, in reply to her assistant's greeting, "you've
been with me six months. Are you comfortable?"

"Pretty well," said Jeffreys. "I'm very fond of my boys, and I always
get on comfortably with you."

The mathematical dame once more went to work, and answered, "You and
Jonah don't hit it, I suppose. You don't know Jonah, young man. He may
not be easily satisfied, but he's a gentleman."

"I'm sure," said Jeffreys, to whom this tribute seemed the last he
should expect to hear bestowed on his amiable fellow-usher, "I try to
get on with him, and shall go on trying."

"That's right," said Mrs Trimble, once more shuddering at the prospect
of being left short-handed. "What I was going to say to you was, that
now you've been here six months, and are not a forward young man, and
don't drink, I shall raise your wages, and give you thirty shillings a
month instead of twenty. How will that suit you?"

"You are very kind," said the grateful Jeffreys, with a tremble in his
voice which quite moved the old lady's heart; "it will be very
acceptable."

"Very good. You need not mention it to Jonah," added she hurriedly, as
that young gentleman's footsteps were heard that moment on the stairs.

The only difference which the unconscious Jeffreys was aware of in the
conduct of Jonah Trimble towards himself was that the young gentleman
was a trifle more hectoring and a trifle more facetious than before.

But even to the little mind of Jonah Trimble it had been revealed that
at present it would be extremely awkward for Galloway House if Jeffreys
went "on strike." He was a good teacher and manager; and his boys were
devoted to him. Of course, when a boy goes home from school full of