He did not finish his sentence, for there was something in the deep-set dark eyes which had such an effect upon him that he sneaked off, and I turned to my protector. "Would you please tell me why these little things have no letters on their ends, sir?" I said. "Because they are spaces, my boy. Don't you remember in reading a book there is a little distance between every word?" "Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "and after a full stop there's a bigger space." "To be sure!" he said, smiling, and his pale face looked less stern and severe. "Look: these little things, as you call them, but as we call them, thick spaces, go between every word, and these square ones after a full stop. How are you getting on?" "I know that's _e_, sir." "Yes; go on." "And that's _h_, and that _o_, and _u_--_m_--_a_--_r_--_i_--_s_--_o_--_n_--_t_," I said, touching the boxes in turn. "Good, very good," he said, "and what is that?" "That, sir?--_d_." "No, it is _p_. And that?" "Oh, that is _b_." "No, it is _q_. Now you know the meaning of mind your _p's_ and _q's_. You must learn the difference, and try to recollect this; all the letters, you see, are reversed, like a seal." "Like the motto on papa's seal. Yes, I see, sir," I said eagerly. "That's right, my boy," he said looking at me curiously. "Go on, I am too busy to stay." "Now! what's all this?" said Mr Grimstone, bustling up with Jem Smith. "Please, sir," said the latter, "I telled him as he was to--" "I found the boy unable to do what was set him, Mr Grimstone," said my protector quietly, "and told him to go on with learning his case. The boy has never been in an office before." "That was for me to know, Mr Hallett," cried the overseer, growing red in the face. "What the devil do you mean by--" "Interfering, Mr Grimstone? I did it because I was sure you were too good a manager to wish time to be wasted in this large office. And--I must ask you, please when you speak to me, to omit these coarse expressions." "Of all the insolence--" "Insolent or not, sir," said the dark man sternly, "have the goodness to remember that I always treat you with respect, and I expect the same from you. Excuse me, but a quarrel between us will not improve your position with the men." Mr Grimstone looked at him furiously; and turning redder in the face than ever, seemed about to burst into a tirade of angry language, but my protector met his look in a way that quelled him, and turning upon the fat-headed boy, who was looking on open-mouthed, the overseer gave him a sounding box on the ear. "What are you standing gaping there for, you lazy young scoundrel?" he roared; "go and wash those galleys, and do them well."