Henry heard this unflattering description of his friend with some dismay, but remembered that Trevor had given him a very similar account of Edgar. He was beginning to know something of that brotherly feeling which always exists between fellow-craftsmen. Winton showed himself very companionable, and in the evening took Henry for a walk round the town, in the course of which they visited the police station, where he was introduced as "the new _Guardian_ man." This connection between the Press and the Police was one to which Henry would yet learn to attach much importance. On the Sunday he attended church with Mr. Winton and Edgar in the morning, and would have gone again in the evening if Edgar and his father had been so disposed, but it seemed to be the rule of the house for the female side to attend the evening service, as in the morning they were engaged in household duties. Edgar confessed to Henry that he didn't reckon much of church-going, and only went to please the dad. He further avowed that he thought religion a lot of rot, and that most journalists were atheists. He had heard that George Augustus Sala believed in eternal punishment, but that was about all the religion he knew of among knights of the pen. Henry, who had been reared in the quiet atmosphere of a church-loving home, and had never listened to doubts about religion, heard Edgar's opinions with some dismay, but did not venture to dispute them. He had an uneasy feeling that the more he saw of men the less they justified his ideals, and he began to wonder whether, if he had to let slip his illusions of daily life, he would not also have to modify his religious convictions. CHAPTER VIII THE YOUNG JOURNALIST WITH the morning, however, Henry was fresh for the fray again. The prospects of his first day in active journalism swept away all doubts and misgivings. Edgar having to attend the Monday police court, which was always fat with drunks and wife-beaters, Henry was left to make his way to the _Guardian_ office himself. On his arrival there he found the office-boy descending the stairs by using the railing as a slide, at the end of which he fell somewhat heavily on the door-mat, but picked himself up and smiled at Henry in proof that no bones were broken. Upstairs, the weedy young man with downy whiskers, who bore on his narrow shoulders the full weight of the _Guardian's_ commercial affairs, was at work on the morning's letters. He looked up as Henry entered, and inquired his business. "Is Mr. Springthorpe in?" the new reporter asked. The clerk was surprised for a moment to hear the editor's name mentioned thus early in the day. Then he answered: "No, he is rather irregular in his hours. He may not arrive till eleven or twelve to-day!"