He left late. It
is in every one's mouth this morning."
"I had it from Hamish. He came to the party at the Knivetts'. Didn't
Hamish get taken in!" laughed Roland. "He understood it was quite a
ladies' affair, and loomed in, dressed up to the nines, and there he
found only a bachelor gathering of Dick's. Hamish was disappointed, I
think; he fancied he was going to meet Ellen Huntley; and glum enough
he looked--"
"He had only just heard of the loss," interrupted Arthur. "Enough to
make him look glum."
"Rubbish! It wasn't that. He announced at once that the money was gone
for good and all, and laughed over it, and said there were worse
disasters at sea. Knivett said he never saw a fellow carry ill news off
with so high a hand. Had he been proclaiming the accession of a
fortune, instead of the loss of one, he could not have been more
carelessly cheerful. Channing, what on earth shall you do about your
articles?"
A question that caused the greatest pain, especially when put by Roland
Yorke; and Arthur's sensitive face flushed.
"You'll have to stop as a paid clerk for interminable years! Jenkins,
you'll have him for your bosom companion, if you look sharp and make
friends," cried Roland, laughing loudly.
"No, sir, I don't think Mr. Arthur Channing is likely to become a paid
clerk," said Jenkins.
"Not likely to become a paid clerk! why, he _is_ one. If he is not one,
I'd like to know who is.
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