true Glasgow manufacture and proportions, born to make a fortune, but unfortunately, not born either to be or look anything beyond the honest, genial, persevering, money-making man he already was. Mr. Sinclair's health was delicate; his mind, considering that he was a clever and very successful merchant, pre-eminently so; and the choice of his confidential clerk, puzzled Mr. George Lumsden and his principal sadly. Mr. Foreman, on hearing of this, had written without delay to his minister's brother, desiring to know whether poor Archibald--the ruined laird--might have any chance of suiting so peculiar a situation. His name, Mr. Foreman wrote somewhat proudly, was a sufficient voucher for his personal acquirements; he had been unfortunate, but the youthful madness which occasioned these misfortunes had been bitterly repented of, and there was little doubt that his ability, and earnest endeavor to redeem his lost ground, would carry him to the head of whatever he attempted. When Mr. Ferguson and Archibald entered Mr. Foreman's private room, they found him waiting in nervous expectation for an answer to this letter. He knew the mail had come in; he had dispatched a messenger to the post-office half an hour ago, and was fuming now over the vexatious delay. In the meantime, however, he managed to explain the matter to his visitors. "From all that I can hear, Mr. Archibald, is just the thing for you--without office drudging, and with a man who could understand and sympathize with your feelings. I do think we have been fortunate in hearing of it." Archibald shook his head. "You are too ambitious for me, Mr. Foreman. I would rather--it may be a sort of pride, perhaps, though pride sits ill on me--I would, indeed, rather not have my feelings sympathized with by strangers. I should prefer no manner of distinction. "Well, well!" said Mr. Foreman, "neither there will be; only the situation is a superior one, and you would have in it the best possible opening." "Don't think me ungrateful," said Archibald. "I shall be very glad of it, if you think me at all likely to have the necessary qualifications. But in business, you know, I want experience entirely. I almost want even elementary knowledge." "No fear of that," said Mr. Ferguson, "a good head and clear mind soon master the details of business--but India!"