quarter cheque a-staring me in the face, and him hungry! What a dreadful thing to think of, old girl. Poor young John!"
They were not long in coming to the conclusion that he had enlisted. Johnny's duties called him to Carey Street, although it was Christmas-day, but Mrs. Johnny made it her business to wander about recruiting dépôts all day. Young John, however, carefully kept himself inside the public-house, and gave the friendly recruiting sergeant, who was not quite so friendly now—that professional gentleman having cooled down amazingly since the morning—a hint that he might possibly be sought for. So Mrs. Pounce's efforts were utterly fruitless.
Johnny spent every day of that ensuing week at the office. It was difficult at first to persuade oneself that that chair would never be filled by Mr. Pintle again; that the ruler, paper-weight, gum-bottle, pens, ink, and scissors, left as he had left them day after day for fifty years, had been arranged in their methodical order by him for the last time. The conveyancing clerk and the common law clerk were paid their salaries and dismissed by Captain Redfern, the heir-at-law, who was closeted all day long with old Johnny, going over various deeds, and making himself intimate with all the affairs of the dead man. On the Saturday evening old Johnny was paid his last week's salary of three pounds, and was informed that his services would for the future be dispensed with.
Old Johnny spent many a weary day, and trudged many a weary mile through snow and slush, after fresh
