“I went round to pay Simms, for one thing; and then I called in upon Hamish, and stayed talking with him. Wasn’t he in a sea of envy when I told him I had been scoring off that Simms! He wished he could do the same.” “Hamish does not owe anything to Simms!” cried Arthur, with hasty retort. “Doesn’t he?” laughed Roland Yorke. “That’s all you know about it. Ask him yourself.” “If you please, sir,” interposed Mr. Jenkins, at this juncture, “I shall soon be waiting for that paper. Mr. Galloway directed me to send it off by post.” “Bother the paper!” returned Roland; but, nevertheless, he applied himself to complete it. He was in the habit of discoursing upon private topics before Jenkins without any reserve, regarding him as a perfect nonentity. When Arthur went home in the evening, he found Mr. Galloway sitting with his father. “Well,” cried the proctor, as Arthur entered, “and who has been at the office this afternoon?” “No one in particular, sir. Oh yes, there was, though--I forgot. The dean looked in, and wanted to see you.” “What did he want?” “He did not say, sir. He told Jenkins it would do another time.” Arthur left his father and Mr. Galloway together. He did not broach the subject that was uppermost in his heart. Gifted with rare delicacy of feeling, he would not speak to Mr. Galloway until he could see him alone. To prefer the request in his father’s presence might have caused Mr. Galloway more trouble in refusing it. “I can’t think what has happened to Arthur this evening!” exclaimed one of them. “His spirits are up to fever heat. Tell us what it is, Arthur?” Arthur laughed. “I hope they will not be lowered to freezing point within the next hour; that’s all.” When he heard Mr. Galloway leaving, he hastened after him, and overtook him in the Boundaries. “I wanted to say a few words to you, sir, if you please?” “Say on,” said Mr. Galloway. “Why did you not say them indoors?” “I scarcely know how I shall say them now, sir; for it is a very great favour that I have to ask you, and you may be angry, perhaps, at my thinking you might grant it.” “You want a holiday, I suppose?” “Oh no, sir; nothing of that sort. I want--” “Well?” cried Mr. Galloway, surprised at his hesitation; but now that the moment of preferring the request had come, Arthur shrank from doing it. “Could you allow me, sir--would it make very much difference--to allow me--to come to the office an hour earlier, and remain in it an hour later?” stammered Arthur. “What for?” exclaimed Mr. Galloway, with marked surprise. “I have had an offer made me, sir, to take the cathedral organ at week-day service. I should very much like to accept it, if it could be managed.” “Why, where’s Jupp?” uttered Mr. Galloway.