74 A SPOKE IN THE WHEEL.

It’s the parson’s doing!” said Williams, shocked

* at what he had read aloud, and, crumpling it in his
hand, threw it from him. ‘“ He is a narrow-souled,
bigoted, methodistical fellow, who sets his face
against every kind of pleasure! It is just like him!”
This little incident, however, seemed to throw no
gloom on him, after the first moment; so, leaving
them to their full enjoyment, we will return to Rey-
nolds, who was thrown, by his companion’s sudden
desertion, into a state of the most complete perplexity.
Reynolds was a good-hearted fellow; he always
looked upon Williams as much older in worldly
experience than he was; he, himself, was a child in
comparison of him, a mere apprentice; whilst the
other had been, as it were, “out of his time” this many
and many aday. He had long known that Williams
would never exeel in his business ; he had neglected
the study of every branch of it ever since the first
glow of novelty was worn off. He was frank in his
confession about it; he hated business, and would
never do any more than he was obliged; yet the
impulses of his nature were often good and kind; he
knew his own weaknesses and acknowledged them,
and was quite willing that Reynolds should stand
a long way before him in the good opinion of Mr.
Isaacs. Reynolds really liked him, and had so con-
stantly and for so long done his work, and hidden
all his misdemeanors, and made up for his short-
comings, that Williams had the fullest confidence
that he would befriend him also in this instance.
Betray him he never would; and he would smuggle
him, safely and unseen, into the house, if he sate up
the whole night for it. Yes; that was all true. But
for all that, Reynolds was not at all pleased with the