He in turn screwed up his face, and gave the younger a comical look. "Your father would not have done so, John Lister," he said. "What am I to say, Miss Carr?" For answer the young lady rose and went and laid her hands in one of his. "If you please, Mr Ruddle," she said in a low musical voice, "it will be a kindly act." "God bless you, my dear," he said tenderly. "I believe if I were with you long you'd make me as much your slave as you have John Lister." "Then you will?" "Yes, my dear, yes, if it is really as he says." She darted an intelligent look at me, and then hastily pulled down her crape veil as Mr Lister followed her to her chair. "Come here, my lad," said Mr Ruddle, in quiet business-like tones. "We want boys here, but boys used to the printing trade, for it does not answer our purpose to teach them; we have no time. But as you seem a sharp, respectable boy, and pretty well educated, you might, perhaps, be willing to try." "Oh, if you'll try me, I'll strive so hard to learn, sir!" I cried excitedly. "I hope you will, my boy," he said drily, "but don't profess too much; and mind this, you are not coming here as a young gentleman, but as a reading-boy--to work." "Yes, sir. I want to work," I said earnestly. "That's well. Now, look here. I want to know a little more about you. If, as you say, you came from near Rowford, you can tell me the names of some of the principal people there?" "Yes, sir; there's Doctor Heston, and the Reverend James Wyatt, and Mr Elton." "Exactly," he said gruffly; and he opened a large book and turned over a number of pages. "Humph! here it is," he said to himself, and he seemed to check off the names. "Now, look here, my man. What is the name of the principal solicitor at Rowford?" "Mr Blakeford, sir," I said with a shiver, lest he should want to write to him about me. "Oh, you know him?" he said sharply. "Yes, sir. He managed papa's--my father's--affairs," I said, correcting myself. "Then I'm sorry for your poor father's affairs," he said, tightening his lips. "That will do, my lad. You can come to work here. Be honest and industrious, and you'll get on. Never mind about having been a gentleman, but learn to be a true man. Go and wait outside." I tried to speak. I wanted to catch his hands in mine. I wanted to fling my arms round Miss Carr, and kiss and bless her for her goodness. I was so weak and sentimental a boy then. But I had to fight it all down, and satisfy myself by casting a grateful glance at her as I went out to wait. I was no listener, but I heard every word that passed as the ladies rose to go. "Are you satisfied, my dear?" said Mr Ruddle. "God bless you?" she said; and I saw her raise her veil and kiss him.