"Yes, sir," he said, looking up modestly, "I was sent by a fireman; I _am_ the other boy." Mr Auberly smiled again grimly, and said that the fireman was a brave fellow, and that he had saved his daughter's life, and that he was very glad to do anything that lay in his power for him, and that he understood that Willie was the fireman's brother; to which the boy replied that he was. "Well, then, come this way," continued Mr Auberly, leading Willie into the library of the adjoining house, which his friend had put at his disposal, and seating himself at a writing-table. "You want a situation of some sort--a clerkship, I suppose?" Willie admitted that his ambition soared to that tremendous height. "Let me see," muttered Mr Auberly, taking up a pen and beginning to write; "yes, she will be able to help me. What is your name, boy?" "Willie, sir." "Just so, William; and your surname--your other name?" "Willders, sir." Mr Auberly started, and looked Willie full in the eyes. Willie, feeling that he was playing a sort of double part without being able to avoid it, grew red in the face. "What did you say, boy?" "Willders," replied Willie stoutly. "Then you're _not_ the other boy," said Mr Auberly, laying down his pen, and regarding Willie with a frown. "Please, sir," replied Willie, with a look of meekness which was mingled with a feeling of desperation, for his desire to laugh was strong upon him, "please, sir, I don't rightly know _which_ boy I am." Mr Auberly paused for a moment. "Boy, you're a fool!" "Thank 'ee, sir," said Willie. This reply went a long way in Mr Auberly's mind to prove the truth of his assertion. "Answer me, boy," said Mr Auberly with an impressive look and tone; "were you sent here by a fireman?" "Yes, sir," replied Willie. "What is his name?" "Same as mine, sir--Willders." "Of course, of course," said Mr Auberly, a little confused at having put such an unnecessary question. "Does your _mother_ know you're here?" This brought the slang phrase, "Does your mother know you're out?" so forcibly to the boy's mind, that he felt himself swell internally, and had recourse again to his pocket-handkerchief as a safety-valve. "Yes, sir," said he, on recovering his composure; "arter I saw Blazes-- Frank, I mean, that's my brother, sir--I goes right away home to bed. I stops with my mother, sir, an' she saw me come off here this mornin', sir. She knows I was comin' here." "Of course; yes, yes, I see," muttered Mr Auberly, again taking up his pen. "I see; yes, yes; same name--strange coincidence, though; but, after all, there are many of that name in London. I suppose the _other_ boy will be here shortly. Very odd, very odd indeed." "Please, sir," observed Willie, in a gentle tone, "you said _I_ was the other boy, sir." Mr Auberly seemed a little annoyed at his muttered words being thus replied to, yet he condescended to explain that there was another boy of the same name whom he expected to see that morning.