give the firm a bad name by being seen in a second-class carriage, although the difference would go into his own pocket. That wasn't the way he had begun, and that wasn't the way he was going to end.' He said nothing to Mr. Dockwrath in the morning, merely bowing in answer to that gentleman's salutation. 'Hope you were comfortable last night in the back drawing-room,' said Mr. Dockwrath; but Mr. Moulder in reply only looked at him.
At the Mansfield station, Mr. Kantwise, with his huge wooden boxes, appeared on the platform, and he got into the same carriage with Mr. Dockwrath. He had come on by a night train, and had been doing a stroke of business that morning. 'Well, Kantwise,' Moulder holloaed out from his warm, well-padded seat, 'doing it cheap and nasty, eh?'
'Not at all nasty, Mr. Moulder,' said the other. 'And I find myself among as respectable a class of society in the second-class as you do in the first; quite so;—and perhaps a little better,' Mr. Kantwise added, as he took his seat immediately opposite to Mr. Dockwrath. 'I hope I have the pleasure of seeing you pretty bobbish this morning, sir.' And he shook bands cordially with the attorney.
'Tidy, thank you,' said Dockwrath. 'My company last night did not do me any harm; you may swear to that.'
'Ha! ha! ha! I was so delighted that you got the better of Moulder; a domineering party, isn't he? quite terrible! For myself, I can't put up with him sometimes.'
'I didn't have to put up with him last night.'
'No, no; it was very good, wasn't it now? very capital, indeed. All the same I wish you'd heard Busby give us "Beautiful Venice, City of Song!" A charming voice has Busby; quite charming.' And there was a pause for a minute or so, after which Mr. Kantwise resumed the conversation. 'You'll allow me to put you up one of those drawing-room sets?' he said.
'Well, I am afraid not. I don't think they are strong enough where there are children.'
'Dear, dear; dear, dear; to hear you say so, Mr. Dockwrath! Why, they are made for strength. They are the very things for children, because they don't break, you know.'
'But they'd bend terribly.'
'By no means. They're so elastic that they always recovers themselves. I didn't show you that; but you might turn the backs of them chairs nearly down to the ground, and they will come straight again. You let me send you a set for your wife to look at. If she's not charmed with them I'll—I'll—I'll eat them.'
'Women are charmed with anything,' said Mr. Dockwrath, 'A new bonnet does that.'
'They know what they are about pretty well, as I dare say you
