"I'll tell you what it is, William," said Mr Tippet suddenly, getting off the bench and seizing the boy's hand, "your talents would be wasted in my office. You'll come and assist me here in the workshop. I'm greatly in want of an intelligent lad who can use his hands; but, by the way, can you use your hands? Here, cut this piece of wood smooth, with that knife." He handed Willie a piece of cross-grained wood and a blunt knife. Willie looked at both, smiled, and shook his head. "It would take a cleverer feller than me to do it; but I'll try." Willie did try; after a quarter of an hour spent in vain attempts, he threw down the wood and knife exclaiming, "It's impossible." Mr Tippet, who had been smiling cherubically, and nodding approval, said: "I knew it was impossible, my lad, when I gave it to you, and I now know that you are both neat-handed and persevering; so, if you choose, I'll engage you on the spot to come on trial for a week. After that we will settle the remuneration. Meanwhile, shake hands again, and allow me to express to you my appreciation of the noble character of your brother, who, I understand from my sister's letter, saved a young relative of mine from the midst of imminent danger. Good-night, William, and come to me on Monday next, at nine o'clock in the morning." Willie was somewhat perplexed at this prompt dismissal (for Mr Tippet had opened the door), especially after such a long and free-and-easy conversation, and he felt that, however much license Mr Tippet might permit, he was a man of stern will, who could not be resisted with impunity; so, although he was burning to know the object and nature of innumerable strange pieces of mechanism in the workshop, he felt constrained to make a polite bow and depart. On his way downstairs, he heard the voices of men as if in angry disputation; and on reaching the next floor, found Mr Barret standing at the open door of his room, endeavouring to hold Ned Hooper, who was struggling violently. "I tell you," said the latter, in a drunken voice, "that I w-will go out!" "Come, Ned, not to-night; you can go to-morrow" said Barret soothingly, yet maintaining his hold of his friend. "W-why not? ain't night the best time to--to--be jolly?--eh! L-me go, I shay." He made a fierce struggle at this point; and Barret, ceasing to expostulate, seized him with a grasp that he could not resist, and dragged him forcibly, yet without unnecessary violence, into the room. Next instant the door was shut with a bang and locked; so Willie Willders descended to the street, and turned his face homewards, moralising as he went on the evils of drink.