"No, no, thank you," he said. "'A fool and his money are soon parted,' they say. I'm not such a fool as to throw mine away in bets. Besides, I think betting is very wrong: I am sure I should not like to take another fellow's money if I won it. Don't you remember how Mr. Howe used to warn us against gambling of all kinds? He used to say that nothing led so surely to dishonesty and crime." "That will do, thank you. Pray spare me Mr. Howe's sermon. It is no good trying to put any gumption into you, Reuben. You are a fool—a precious fool." Not long after this, Reuben changed his lodging. It was by Mr. Akenside's arrangement that he did so. Just within the large gates which guarded the entrance to the works was a small dwelling, occupied by an old man who acted as gate-keeper by day and had charge of the premises at night. He had been in the service of the firm for many years, and they were loth to dismiss him, but he was obviously getting past his work. His hearing was no longer good, nor his movements alert. Rather than dismiss him, Mr. Akenside suggested that he should have a young man to live with him, who could accompany him on his rounds at night to see that everything was secure, and whose keen young ears could be trusted to repair the old man's deficiency. The gate-keeper had no objection to this plan, and seemed pleased when Mr. Akenside named Reuben Roy as the youth he thought of placing with him. "He's a good lad is Reuben Roy," he said. "If all the young fellows would behave themselves as he does, we should not have much to complain of. I tell him sometimes he has an old head on young shoulders." Mr. Akenside heard him with surprise. "I am afraid you are mistaken in Reuben Roy, Samuel," he said. "I used to have a high opinion of him. But Savage tells me he is very tiresome, and does not attend to his work properly. I fancy he has taken up with bad companions; I saw him myself the other day with a fast young fellow, whose appearance I did not at all like. To tell you the truth, I hoped that being here with you would act as a restraint on him, and you might get a good influence over him, for I know you are a favourite with the young fellows." "Well, we live and learn," said the old man musingly. "I should certainly never have thought Reuben Roy a lad who needed restraint, nor one likely to be led astray by bad companions." His words made an impression on Mr. Akenside. He would fain think well of Reuben Roy. He began to wonder if Savage had been quite fair towards Reuben, or whether he had conceived a prejudice against him. When, a few days later, Savage ventured to remonstrate with Mr. Akenside concerning his appointment of Reuben to be old Samuel's helper, saving that he thought it dangerous to allow such a lad the range of the factory, he found to his dismay that his words were without effect; Mr. Akenside was not to be persuaded to give up his purpose.