"My master!" muttered Harry. "Like conger-pie, boy?" "No," said Harry, shortly. "More nice than wise," said Uncle Luke. "Always were. There, be quick. I want to see your master." "To see my master," thought Harry, with a strange feeling of exasperation in his breast as he looked up at Crampton. Crampton was looking up at him with eyes which said very clearly, "Well, why don't you go?" "They'll make me an errand-boy next," said the young man to himself, as, after twisting his locket round and round like a firework, he swung himself down, "and want me to clean the knives and boots and shoes." "Tell him I'm in a hurry," said Uncle Luke, as Harry reached the door which led into the private house along a passage built and covered with glass, by one side of what was originally a garden. "Ah," said Uncle Luke, going closer to old Crampton's desk, and taking down from where it rested on two brass hooks, the heavy ebony ruler. "Nice bit o' wood that." "Yes, sir," said the old clerk, in the fidgety way of a workman who objects to have his tools touched. "Pretty weighty," continued Uncle Luke, balancing it in his hand. "Give a man a pretty good topper that, eh?" "Yes, Mr Luke Vine.--I should like to give him one with it," thought Crampton. "Do for a constable's staff, or to kill burglars, eh?" "Capitally, sir." "Hah! You don't get burglars here, though, do you?" "No, sir; never had any yet." "Good job too," said Uncle Luke, putting the ruler back in its place, greatly to Crampton's relief. "Rather an awkward cub to lick into shape, my nephew, eh?" "Rather, sir." "Well, you must lick away, Crampton--not with that ruler though," he chuckled. "Time something was made of him--not a bad sort of boy; but spoiled." "I shall do my best, Mr Luke Vine," said Crampton dryly; "but I must tell you candidly, sir, he's too much of the gentleman for us, and he feels it." "Bah!" "Not at all the sort of young man I should have selected for a clerk." "Never mind; make the best of him." "Mr Van Heldre is coming, sir," said Harry coldly, as he re-entered the office. "Bah! I didn't tell you to bring him here. I want to go in there." As Luke Vine spoke, he rose and moved to the door. "Be a good boy," he said, turning with a peculiar smile at his nephew. "I dare say you'll get on." "Oh!" muttered Harry, as he retook his place at his desk, "how I should like to tell you, Uncle Luke, just what I think." The door closed behind the old man, who had nearly reached the end of the long passage, when he met Van Heldre. "Ah, Luke Vine, I was just coming." "Go back," said the visitor, making a stab at the merchant with his stick. "Brought you something. Where's Mrs Van Heldre?" "In the breakfast-room. Come along." Van Heldre clapped the old man on the shoulder, and led him into the room where Mrs Van Heldre was seated at work. "Ah, Mr Luke Vine," she cried, "who'd have thought of seeing you?" "Not you. How are you? Where's the girl?"