The widow ventured to represent that whatever interest he might acquire in the business might just as well be turned into money to help him in the army; but she did not venture to make this proposal a second time. Her idea now came down to having him in the militia, which, she thought, would not prevent his being a business man too. But even this her brother-in-law would not for a long time hear of. He did, however, as the time approached for George to leave school, say that, as things had been going moderately well with him, it was not impossible that the militia fancy might be realised, if George should take kindly to business. George did commence his career-not kindly, indeed, for there was nothing kindly about him; but he went at it intending to do well, and he might have done well but for an occurrence which affected his destiny. He never got over his early perplexities-never understood that what he had experienced in the little world of school was only an abridgment of what went on all over the great world outside; but thought he had been peculiarly unfortunate in having his lot cast where talents like Ned Roberts's were appreciated, and brains were so dull that not the plainest exposure of the

wrong could induce a recognition of its existence. Beside this grievance was working, more potently than he knew of, the household phantasy that he was a sort of dethroned prince to whom fortune was largely indebted. The young man was persuaded that he was exceptionally unlucky; he thought he did not deserve his fate; he thought that others less deserving and less earnest than he succeeded much better. He did not see how things were to be mended, nor to what quarter to look for improvement or comfort. He once or twice made a step towards religion, but did not persevere. "What is the use," he would say, "of devoting one's self to good works in a world where good people are punished and bad ones rewarded?" George was not only gloomy and melancholy; he was very irritable and could fall into uncontrollable passions. While he was in this frame of mind, and when he had been but a short time at his business, occurred the event above alluded to, which so much affected his prospects.

Before, however, saying what this event was, it will be proper to give a more particular introduction of Mr Bateman, George's uncle, who will be one of the most prominent persons in this narrative.

The reader already knows that he was the only and younger brother of George's dead father, and it should now be added that he was a very different person indeed from that father. He may in his early days have had as strong fancies as any of his house about Bateman ancestry; but if he had such, he put them aside when, as a soldier's orphan, he found himself face to face with a hard - featured world. He said very little about intentions, and nothing about sacrifices; and when he thought of what would be the condition of his widowed mother as soon as his elder brother should be of age, he made up his mind to find some employment whereby he could earn a living, without caring how humble it might be. His mother herself, for whose sake he was anxious to work, declared that she was shocked when he spoke to her of asking to be taken as an assistant in a small trading business in Gritvale.

"My son," she said, "what ever are you thinking of? Your father an officer, and your grandfather such a distinguished civilian! I know, of course, that we are not rich enough to launch you on a career that requires much money; but you have a trifle, thank God, and I thought if you would follow

your father's profession-or-or-something of that sort; but to see you a clerk, which is only another name for a servant, is what I never could. Your poor grandfather and father wouldn't rest in their graves. No, I never could think of such a thing."

Bateman, however, by quiet persistence in what he knew to be right, persuaded, if he did not reconcile, his mother to asking for the place which he desired; and she, with many qualms of gentility, at length condescended to propose to the owner of the business that he should take her son as an assistant at a small salary. After she had thus humbled herself, her indignation was great to find her advances rejected. She scarcely had patience to listen to the polite speech in which Mr Simpson declined the proposal.

"Madam," said the old dealer, "I am sure you do me much honour by offering me your second son as an assistant. If I were inclined to take into my establishment any person from your class of society, believe me, there is no family from which I should make my choice more readily than from yours. But I must tell you plainly, madam, that I do not want a gentleman. The requirements of

the business are laborious, and your son would probably think them degrading. Besides, I should require an amount of attendance which you might consider excessive, and the remuneration which I could give at first would be merely nominal. I am very sensible of your condescension in speaking to me on the subject, and regret very much that it is not convenient to meet your wishes."

The lady's face was quite red as she bowed herself out almost in silence. "Now you see," she said to her son, "what it is to deal with a vulgar person. I have laid myself open to not only refusal -that I don't mind-but to insult. Our position in society has positively been made an objection by this low-minded trader. I determined that I would do my best to gratify you, and I have done it at some cost. I only hope you are now satisfied, my dear, of the unsuitableness of the plans you have been forming."

But young Bateman was not satisfied of any such thing. The old tradesman's objections seemed to him only reasonable and natural. It was clear that, as Bateman had suspected, he would not object to an assistant if only he could secure the person he wanted, and that was something. The