To this Gerald assented. He had never entered the room and had some curiosity to see it. Accordingly he went in and found a collection of village roughs. Brandon entered a game then being played, and Gerald sat down and looked on. At one end of the room was a bar, to which the players adjourned at intervals. "Won't you have something, Gerald?" asked Brandon, whose turn came to treat at the end of the first game. "No, thank you." "I won't tell your ma," said his fellow-clerk, with a smile. "I am not sure that she would care, but I would rather not drink." "I see you haven't graduated from Sunday school," said Brandon, with a little sneer. Gerald did not answer, nor did he heed the sneer. He observed that when Brandon paid for the drinks and the game in which he was a loser, he handed the bartender a five-dollar bill and thrust the change carelessly into his vest-pocket with the air of a millionaire. Considering the moderate pay he received, Gerald was surprised at the freedom with which he spent his money. At the end of half an hour he left the billiard-room and went home. Mrs. Lane and Abel were still up. "Here comes the young grocer!" said Abel, with a malicious smile. "Are you just out of the store?" asked Mrs. Lane. "No. I walked awhile with Mr. Brandon, the head clerk." "How do you like it as far as you've got?" asked Abel. "I don't like it." "I suppose you would rather be at school." "I certainly should." "Yes; it would be easier." "That is not my reason." "What is your reason?" "I think I am wasting my time in a grocery store." "You get paid for it, don't you?" "Yes; I shall be paid a small sum." "Abel," said his mother, "I don't care to have you talk with Gerald on this subject. As he goes on he will get contented and will see that I have planned for the best. Now, as it is near ten o'clock, we may as well go to bed." The next morning Gerald rose earlier than the rest of the family and breakfasted by himself. It was a comfort to him to occupy his own bedchamber. Abel had been so thoroughly frightened by the visit of the burglar that he absolutely refused to occupy the large room, though urged to do so by his mother, who did not like to think that he was less luxuriously provided for than Gerald. -------------- "Well, how did you make out, Mr. Brandon?" asked Gerald, of his fellow-clerk. "I had bad luck. I spent over two dollars last evening." "It wouldn't do for me to spend so much. I only receive three dollars a week." "I couldn't get along without the billiard-room. After standing all day in this dull store I need a little recreation." Gerald could not understand how Brandon could afford to spend so much money in the evening, or how he could have anything left for clothing and necessary expenses. During the day he overheard a conversation between Mr. Tubbs and a neighbor. "How is business, Tubbs?" asked the latter.