his jacket and trousers as cohered.

My reader may well wonder how, in what was called a respectable shop,
he could be permitted to appear in such poverty; but Mr. Maidstone
disliked the boy so much that he meant to send him away the moment he
found another to do his work, and gave orders that he should never
come up from the basement except when wanted to carry a parcel. The
fact was that his still, solemn, pure face was a haunting rebuke to
his master, although he did not in the least recognize the nature, or
this as the cause, of his dislike.



Chapter XXXV.

Clare disregards the interests of his employers.


Things went on for nearly a month, every one thriving but Clare. Yet
was Clare as peaceful as any, and much happier than Tommy, to whose
satisfaction adventure was needful.

One day, a lady, attracted by a muff in the shop-window labelled with
a very low price, entered, and requested to see it.

"We can offer you a choice from several of the sort, madam," said the
shopman. "It is one of a lot we bought cheap, but quite uninjured,
after a fire."

"I want to see the one in the window," the lady answered.