THE NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES. 39

“Yes, sir; but I thought if I could hire myself out
a little while, it would not ‘so much matter ; I can write
and cypher in the evenings with father.” ;

And as I ventured to look up into Mr. French’s
thin, kind face, as he stood jeaning against the shelves;
with his thumb caught in the arm-hole of his waistcoat,
how sorry did I feel that I had not come half an hour
sooner, “I came.as soon as I heard of it,” thought
I; and indeed there was nothing to regret.

“Ts Charles very ill, sir?” I asked.

“Well, I am afraid so, I am afraid so,” answered
Mr. French, sorrowfully. “There comes the doctor's

_ gig, now;” and at that moment the horse stopped at
one of the posts before the door.

- “T should like to have employed you, Robert, though
I suppose it-would have been’ new business to you;
but——”

By this he met the doctor, and they went round
together to the door which opened into his house,
adjoinitig the shop: i

“Well,” I sighed, as.I walked away, “tending shop