"Oh, indeed!" responded Tom Chandler, laughing at MacEveril's modest request, so modestly put. "What else would you like, Dick?" Dick laughed too. "That will serve me for the present moment, Mr. Chandler," said he. "Well, Dick, I'm sorry to deny you, but you can't have it. You have a conscience to ask it, young man, when you know the Worcester Sessions are close at hand, and we are so busy here we don't know which way to turn!" "I mean to take it," said Dick. "But I don't mean you to; understand that. See here, Dick: I won't be harder than I'm obliged; I should like to go to the pic-nic myself, though there's no chance of that for me. Come here in good time in the morning, get through as much work as you can, and I daresay we can let you off at one o'clock. There!" This concession did not satisfy MacEveril. When Mr. Hanborough came in from the other room he found the young man exercising his saucy tongue upon Tom Chandler, calling him a "Martinet," a "Red Indian Freebooter," and other agreeable names, which he may have brought with him from Australia. Tom, ever sweet-tempered, took it all pleasantly, and bade him go on with his work. That interlude passed. At half-past four o'clock MacEveril went out, as usual, to get his tea, leaving Chandler and Hanborough in the office, each writing at his own desk. Presently the former paused; looked fixedly at the mortgage-deed he was engaged upon, and then got up to carry it to the old clerk. As he was crossing the room the postman came in, put a small pile of letters into Mr. Chandler's hand, and went out again. Tom looked down at the letters but did not disturb them; he laid them down upon Mr. Hanborough's desk whilst he showed him the parchment. "I don't much like this one clause, Hanborough," he said. "Just read it; it's very short. Would it be binding on the other party?" They were both reading the clause, heads together, when Mr. Paul was heard speaking in haste. "Chandler! Tom Chandler! Come here directly"--and Tom turned and went at once. "Is Hanborough there?" cried Mr. Paul. "Yes, sir." "Tell him to come in also; no time to lose." Mr. Paul wanted them to witness his signature to a deed which had to go off by the evening post. That done, he detained them for a minute upon some other matter; after which, Hanborough left the room. Chandler turned to follow him. "Bring the letters in as soon as they come," said Mr. Paul. "There may be one from Burnaby." "Oh, they have come," replied Tom; and he went into the other room and brought the letters to the lawyer.