ould, and then
come back to the counting-house.

In a couple of hours our hero was back again.

"Look on this list; do you understand it?" said Mr Sleek to Joey; "it
is sea-stock for the _Hecate_ which sails in a day or two. If I send a
porter with you to the people we deal with, would you be able to get all
these things which are marked with a cross? the wine and the others we
have here."

Joey looked over it, and was quite at home; it was only bumboating on a
large scale. "O, yes; and I know the prices of all these things,"
replied he; "I have been used to the supplying of ships at Gravesend."

"Why then," said Mr Sleek, "you are the very person I want; for I have
no time to attend to out-door work now."

The porter was sent for, and our hero soon executed his task, not only
with a precision but with a rapidity that was highly satisfactory to Mr
Sleek. As soon as the articles were all collected, Joey asked whether
he should take them on board--"I understand the work, Mr Sleek, and not
even an egg shall be broke, I promise you." The second part of the
commission was executed with the same precision by our hero, who
returned with a receipt of every article having been delivered safe and
in good condition. Mr Sleek was delighted with our hero, and told Mr
Small so when they met in the evening. Mr Sleek's opinion was given in
the presence of Mrs Phillips and Emma, who exchanged glances of
satisfaction at Joey's fortunate _debut_.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

IN WHICH THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE TURNS A SPOKE OR TWO IN FAVOUR OF OUR
HERO.

If we were to analyse the feelings of our hero towards Emma Phillips, we
should hardly be warranted in saying that he was in love with her,
although at seventeen years young men are very apt to be, or so to fancy
themselves. The difference in their positions was so great, that,
although our hero would, in his dreams, often fancy himself on most
intimate terms with his kind little patroness, in his waking thoughts
she was more an object of adoration and respect,--a being to whom he was
most ardently and devotedly attached,--one whose friendship and kindness
had so wrought upon his best feelings, that he would have thought it no
sacrifice to die for her; but the idea of ever being closer allied to
her than he now was had not yet entered into his imagination; all he
ever thought was that, if ever he united himself to any female for life,
the party selected must be like Emma Phillip