"See that," he said, in a quiet business-like way. "I was laughing at you for being soft and green just now, and I'm blessed if I don't feel as if I was ten times worse. Come along, company, it's ever so late, and my report says hot mutton chop, a cup of tea, and some bread and butter." That evening, after a hearty meal, for which Revitts insisted upon paying, there was just time to make the purchases he proposed, which almost melted the whole of my sovereign, and then it was time for him to go on duty. "They've cost a deal," he said thoughtfully, "but then you've still got the money, only in another shape. Now, you get back home and take in the things when they come, and then sit and read a bit, and afterwards go to bed. I wouldn't go out, if I was you." We parted, and I followed out his directions, being shrewd enough to see that he thought me hardly fit to be trusted alone. The next morning I woke to find it was half-past six, and that Revitts had come home and was preparing for bed. He looked tired out, and was very black and dirty, having been, he said, at a fire; but he was not too much fatigued to give me a friendly bit or two of advice as to getting my breakfast and going down to the office. "Have a good breakfast before you start, my boy, and get some bread and cheese for your lunch--that's twopence. When you come back you'll find the tea-things out, and you can make dinner and tea too." In good time I started, leaving Revitts sleeping off his night's fatigue, and about ten minutes to ten I was at the door of the great printing-office, flushed with exercise and dread, but eager all the same to make a beginning. I hesitated as to whether I should go in at once or wait till it struck ten, but I thought that perhaps I might be some time before I saw Mr Ruddle, so I walked straight in, and the man reading the paper in his gloss case looked up at me in a very ill-used way as I stopped at his window. "You again?" he said gruffly. "Well, what is it?" "If you please, I've come to work," I said. "Work? Why, it's ten o'clock. Why weren't you here at eight?" "Mr Ruddle said ten o'clock, sir, and I want to see him." "Oh!" he said gruffly, as if he were the gatekeeper of an earthly paradise. "Well, I s'pose you must pass in. Go on." I went on into the passage, feeling as if the doorkeeper was the most important personage there, and as if the proprietors must make a practice of asking permission to go into their own place. I went, then, nervously down the passage till I came to the door of the room where I had seen Messrs. Ruddle and Lister. It was ajar, and there were loud voices talking, and though I knocked they went on. "Stern firmness is one thing, Grimstone," I heard Mr Ruddle saying, "and bullying another." "But you don't consider, sir, that I bully the men, do you?" said another voice which was quite familiar to me. "You may call it what you like, Grimstone. There, I'm busy now."