"Why, he told me to come and bring his books! I suppose he meant--!"

"No, sir. He is not very well this evening."

Mr. Clark's hands dropped to his side.

"Not well! Why, he left the office only an hour or two ago."

"Yes, sir; but he walked up, and seemed very tired when he arrived. He
did not eat anything, and--the doctor is coming to see him."

Mr. Clark's face expressed the deepest concern.

"He has been working too hard," he said, shaking his head. "He ought to
have let me go over those accounts. With all he has to carry!"

"Yes, sir, that's it," said James, heartily.

"Well, don't you think I'd better go up and see him?" asked the old
clerk, solicitously. "I might be able to suggest something?"

"No, sir. He said quite positive he would not see _anybody_." James
looked the clerk full in the face. "I was afraid something might 'ave
'appened down in the--ah--?"

Mr. Clark's face lit up with a kindly light.

"No, indeed. It's nothing like that, James. We never had so good a year.
You can make your mind easy about that."