"Ah! has the little wretch come back at last?" cried Mr. Foreman, darting into the outer office, and seizing upon his messenger, who, lingering only to watch the progress of one most interesting game at "bools," which came to a crisis just as he was passing, had returned from the post-office with his load of letters. These were examined in a moment; one bearing the square Glasgow post-mark selected, the others tossed over in an indiscriminate heap to Walter, and Mr. Foreman, opening his letter hurriedly, re-entered the room reading it. It was decidedly favorable. Much of sympathy and compassion for the young man shipwrecked so early, much of regret for the downfall of an old house (for Mr. Lumsden was a north countryman, and knew the Sutherland family by name) were in it; but these Mr. Foreman kept to himself. The prudent manager of Messrs. Sutor and Sinclair's Glasgow house, was rather dubious, as to a young man, who had managed to ruin himself at five-and-twenty, being quite a suitable person for a merchant's trusted and confidential clerk; but proposed that Mr. Sutherland should come, for a month or two, to the Glasgow counting-house, to acquire a knowledge of the business, and enable them to form a better judgment of him, on personal knowledge. Mr. Lumsden's words were quite kind, and perfectly respectful, yet Mr. Foreman delicately softened them as he read, and when he had concluded, looked triumphantly from Archibald to Mr. Ferguson. "Well, gentlemen; what do you say?" The factor gave in his adhesion; his own vague hope from India could not stand before a definite proposal like this. "It looks well, Mr. Archibald; upon my word, I do think it looks well." "It is quite above my expectations," said Archibald. "I am perfectly ready to enter upon my probation at once--without delay. I accept your friend's offer without the least hesitation, Mr. Foreman; write him, I beg, and tell him so, and let the time be fixed for the commencement of my apprenticeship--and then, if I satisfy my new employers--then, for the shores of that luxurious Spain in the west, and such prosperity as Providence shall send me there. Nay, nay; you look sorrowfully at me, as if I mocked myself; I do not--my second beginning is more hopeful than my first. I will do no dishonor--I trust--I hope I shall do no further dishonor to your kindness, or my father's name: only let us have it settled upon, and begun as early as possible, Mr. Foreman. I have no time to lose." "I am glad! I am delighted!" exclaimed the honest lawyer, "to see you take it so well. If the first disagreeables were but over!" "Never mind the first disagreeables, Mr. Foreman," said Archibald, cheerfully. "I shall be the better of difficulties to begin with--if I only were begun." "We will not linger about that," said Mr. Foreman, catching the contagion of his client's cheerfulness, which, to tell the truth, was more in seeming than reality. "I shall write to Mr. Lumsden at once."