interest which he had felt in my welfare from
the first.

While I was still fighting with the difficulties of setting up my
office, and recommending myself to my connection, and so forth, I got
a message from Mr. Fauntleroy telling me to call on him, at the
banking-house, the first time I was passing that way. As you may easily
imagine, I contrived to be passing that way on a particularly early
occasion, and, on presenting myself at the bank, I was shown at once
into Mr. Fauntleroy's private room.

He was as pleasant a man to speak to as ever I met with--bright, and
gay, and companionable in his manner--with a sort of easy, hearty,
jovial bluntness about him that attracted everybody. The clerks all
liked him--and that is something to say of a partner in a banking-house,
I can tell you!

"Well, young Trowbridge," says he, giving his papers on the table a
brisk push away from him, "so you are going to set up in business for
yourself, are you? I have a great regard for your father, and a great
wish to see you succeed. Have you started yet? No? Just on the point of
beginning, eh? Very good. You will have your difficulties, my friend,
and I mean to smooth one of them away for you at the outset. A word of
advice for your private ear--Bank with us."

"You are very kind, sir," I answered, "and I should ask nothing better
than to profit by your suggestion, if I could. But my expenses are heavy
at starting, and when they are all paid I am afraid I shall have very
little left to put by for the first year. I doubt if I shall be able to
muster much more than three hundred pounds of surplus cash in the world
after paying what I must pay before I set up my office, and I should be
ashamed to trouble your house, sir, to open an account for such a trifle
as that."

"Stuff and nonsense!" says Mr. Fauntleroy. "Are _you_ a banker? What
business have you to offer an opinion on the matter? Do as I tell
you--leave it to me--bank with us--and draw for what you like. Stop! I
haven't done yet. When you open the account, speak to the head cashier.
Perhaps you may find he has got something to tell you. There! there! go
away--don't interrupt me--good-by--God bless you!"

That was his way--ah! poor fellow, that was his way.

I went to the head cashier the next morning when I opened my little
modicum of an account. He had received orders to pay my drafts without
reference to my balance. My checks, when I had overdrawn, were to
be privately s