"I always said I would some day pay off my father's debts, Mr Jabez," I said; and then my words brought up such a flood of sad recollections, that I was about to eagerly change the subject, when Mr Jabez leaned over to me and took my hand. "Good lad," he said, shaking it up and down. "Good lad. I like that. I don't believe you ever will pay them, you know; but I like the sound of it all the same." He kept on shaking my hand some time, and only left it to take another pinch of snuff. "And has Mr Lister quite gone from the firm?" "Oh, yes, quite, my lad. He was up to his eyes in debt, and when he didn't marry that girl, and get her money to pay himself off clear, he went smash at once. Lucky escape for her. I'm afraid he was a bad one." "And what is he doing now?" "What, Lister? Set up a rival shop on borrowed money; doing all he can to cut down his old partner, but he'll do no good. Can't get on. Hasn't got a man on the premises who can read." "Indeed!" I said. "Not a soul, Grace. Why, you wouldn't believe it, my lad," he continued, tapping me in the shirt-front with his snuff-box, "but I had one of their Chancery-bills in the other day--big quarto, you know, pica type--and there were two turned _n's_ for _u's_ in the second page." "Never?" I said, to humour him. "Fact, sir, fact," he said, taking another pinch of snuff and snapping his fingers triumphantly. "Why, I'd hardly forgive that in a daily paper where there's a rush on, and it's got up in the night; but in a thing like a Chancery-bill it's inexcusable. Well, now about yourself, Grace. I'm glad you are getting on, boy. Never mind what I said; it's better than being a reader, and growing into a snuffy cantankerous old scarecrow like me. Read your stick well, my boy, and I hope--no, I'm sure you'll get on. But I say, what will you have to eat?" "I'm not hungry, Mr Jabez," I said; "and, look here, I haven't delivered my message to you." "Message? To me?" "Yes, sir. Miss Carr wished me to ask you if you would come and dine with her to-morrow." "Me? Dine with Miss Carr--Carr--Carr? Why, that's the girl Lister was to have married." "Yes--Miss Carr," I said. "But me dine with her! Why, she hasn't fallen in love with me now, has she?" "Oh no," I said, laughing. "She wants to see you on business." "See me on business? why, Grace," he said excitedly, "I was to be paid my five hundred out of her money, and wasn't paid. Is she repenting, and going to give it to me?" "No," I said; "I don't think it's that." "No, of course not," he said thoughtfully. "Couldn't take it if were. What does she want, then? Do you know?" I nodded. "What is it, then?" "I am in Miss Carr's confidence," I said; "and I do not feel at liberty to speak about the matter till after you have seen her." "Let me see," said the old man; "she's very pretty, isn't she?" "Beautiful?" I exclaimed enthusiastically. "Humph! Then I don't think I shall go, Grace." "Not go? Why not?"