Here he stopped for a moment, and Powys regarded him open-mouthed, waiting for more. His frank face clouded over a little when he saw that Mr. Brownlow made a pause. “I was going to say Thank you, sir,” said the young man; “and indeed I do say Thank you; but am I to understand that you don’t think so now?” “I don’t know what to think,” said Mr. Brownlow. “I take more interest in you than--than I am in the habit of taking in a--in a stranger; but they tell me at the office there is a change, and I see there is a change. It has been suggested to me that you were going to the bad, which I don’t believe; and it has been suggested to me that you had something on your mind--” The young man had changed color, as indeed he could scarcely help doing; his _amour propre_ was still as lively and as easily excited as is natural to his age. “If you are speaking of my duties in the office, sir,” he said, “you have a perfect right to speak; but I don’t suppose they could be influenced one way or another by the fact that I had something on my mind--” “I am not speaking to you so much as your employer as--as your friend,” said Mr. Brownlow. “You know the change has been visible. People have spoken about it to me--not perhaps the people you would imagine to have interfered. And I want to speak to you as an old man may speak to a young man--as I should wish, if the circumstances make it needful, any one would speak to my son. Why do you smile?” “I beg your pardon, sir; but I could not but smile at the thought of Mr. John--” “Never mind Mr. John,” said Mr. Brownlow, discomfited. “He has his way, and we have ours. I don’t set up my son as an example. The thing is, that I should be glad if you would take me into your confidence. If any thing is wrong I might be able to help you; and if you have something on your mind--” “Mr. Brownlow,” said young Powys, with a deep blush, “I am very sorry to seem ungrateful, but a man, if he is good for any thing, must have something he keeps to himself. If it is about my work, I will hear whatever you please to say to me, and make whatever explanations you require. I am not going to the bad; but for any thing else I think I have a right to my own mind.” “I don’t deny it--I don’t deny it,” said Mr. Brownlow, anxiously. “Don’t think I want to thrust myself into your affairs; but if either advice or help--” “Thank you,” said the young man. He smiled, and once more Mr. Brownlow, though not imaginative, put a thousand meanings into the smile. “I will be more attentive to my work,” he said; “perhaps I have suffered my own thoughts to interfere with me. Thank you, sir, for your kindness. I am very glad that you have given me this warning.” “But it does not tempt you to open your heart,” said Mr. Brownlow, smiling too, though not with very pleasurable feelings. “There is nothing in my heart that is worth opening,” said Powys; “nothing but my own small affairs--thank you heartily all the same.”