"Well, I thought you was here like a sort of servant--not with them exactly--I see now, I never took it in before--you with your own rooms and walking in at the front door and ordering dinner and them blokes in the hall saying 'sir' to you--oh, lor'." "I told you they had adopted me," said the other, frowning and rather red. "I ought to have taken it in, but I didn't," continued Sam humbly, "and then you ask me here--and are going to give me a chance--Oh, lor',--what's it all for, I want to know? What does it mean?" Christopher got up and walked away. Had Sam but known it, his chance in life was in dire peril at that moment. Seldom had Christopher felt so angry and never had he felt so out of touch with his companion. Why on earth couldn't Sam take his luck without wanting reasons. It was so preposterous, in Christopher's eyes, to want any. In the old days Sam had been ready to share his scant pennies and toys with his small friend. The offer of a ride in a van from the warehouse where Sartin senior worked would have included both of them or neither. What was the difference? What was the use of having plenty if not to share it with a friend? To his credit he did not allow Sam to guess his irritation, but suggested a return to Caesar's room. "Didn't it take you an awful long time to get used to all this?" inquired Sam, as he followed him. "I forget. No, I don't though. I hated it rather at first, the clothes and collars and having to change and be tidy, and all that, but I soon got used to it. Here we are." Mr. Aston was there too now. Sam was duly introduced and behaved with great discretion. He was far less abashed by Mr. Aston than by Aymer, whose physical condition produced a shyness not inherent in the youth. Mr. Aston talked to him in a friendly gossiping way, then looked across at Aymer with a faint nod. Aymer unfolded his scheme of carrying out Sam's ambitions to a fruitful end. He was to go for a year to a commercial school, and after that to be put into a good firm as pupil or 'prentice with a chance of becoming a junior partner with a small capital if he did well. "If you don't do well, of course it's off," concluded Aymer, rather wearily, "the future is in your hands, not ours: we only supply an opportunity." Sam said stolidly he quite understood that: that he was much obliged, and he'd do his best. "It will be a race between you," remarked Mr. Aston, looking from one boy to the other, "as to whether you become a full-fledged grocer first or Christopher a full-fledged engineer." But late that night when Mr. Aston was bidding Aymer good-night, he remarked as he stood looking down at him: "You have done a good piece of road-making to-day, old man." "No, I haven't," retorted Aymer, rather crossly. "I've only supplied material for someone else to use if they like." "Just to please Christopher?"