Salthaven | Page 3

have a fine
evening's work free of interruptions. I'll go and get on with my
weeding."
He moved off and resumed his task; Mr. Saunders, with a suppressed
groan, went on with his digging. The ground got harder and harder and
his back seemed almost at breaking-point. At intervals he had what
gardeners term a "straight-up," and with his face turned toward the
house listened intently for any sounds that might indicate the return of
its mistress.
"Half-past eight," said Hartley at last; "time to knock off. I've put a few
small plants in your bag for you; better put them in in the morning
before you start off."
Mr. Saunders thanked him, and reaching down his coat put it on and
followed Mr. Hartley to the house. The latter, steering him round by the
side-entrance, accompanied him to the front gate.
"If you would like to borrow my roller or lawn-mower at any time," he
said, cordially, "I should be very pleased to lend them to you. It isn't
very far."
Mr. Saunders, who would sooner have died than have been seen
dragging a roller through the streets, thanked him warmly. With an idea
of prolonging his stay, he suggested looking at them.
"They're locked up now," said Mr. Hartley. "See them another time.
Good-night."
"Good-night," said Mr. Saunders. "I'll look in to-morrow evening, if I
may."

"No use to-morrow," Mr. Hartley called after him; "there will be
nobody at home but Joan."
CHAPTER II
MR. ROBERT VYNER entered upon his new duties with enthusiasm.
The second day he was at the office half an hour before anybody else;
on the third day the staff competed among themselves for the honour of
arriving first, and greeted him as respectfully as their feelings would
permit when he strolled in at a quarter to eleven. The arrival of the
senior partner on the day following at a phenomenally early hour, for
the sake of setting an example to the junior, filled them with despair.
Their spirits did not revive until Mr. John had given up the task as
inconvenient and useless.
A slight fillip was given to Robert's waning enthusiasm by the arrival
of new furniture for his room. A large mahogany writing-table, full of
drawers and pigeon-holes, gave him a pleasant sense of importance,
and the revolving chair which went with it afforded a welcome relief to
a young and ardent nature. Twice the office-boy had caught the junior
partner, with his legs tucked up to avoid collisions, whirling wildly
around, and had waited respectfully at the door for the conclusion of
the performance.
[Illustration: The office boy caught the Junior Partner 020]
"It goes a bit stiff, Bassett," said the junior partner.
"Yessir," said Bassett.
"I'm trying to ease it a bit," explained Mr. Robert.
"Yessir," said Bassett again.
Mr. Robert regarded him closely. An undersized boy in spectacles, with
a large head and an air of gravity and old age on his young features,
which the junior thought somewhat ill-placed for such an occasion.

"I suppose you never twizzle round on your chair, Bassett?" he said,
slowly.
Bassett shivered at the idea. "No, sir," he said, solemnly; "I've got my
work to do."
Mr. Robert sought for other explanations. "And, of course, you have a
stool," he remarked; "you couldn't swing round on that."
"Not even if I wanted to, sir," said the unbending Bassett.
Mr. Robert nodded, and taking some papers from his table held them
before his face and surveyed the youth over the top. Bassett stood
patiently to attention.
"That's all right," said the other; "thank you."
"Thank you, sir," said Bassett, turning to the door.
"By the way," said Mr. Robert, eying him curiously as he turned the
handle, "what exercise do you take?"
"Exercise, sir?" said Bassett.
Mr. Robert nodded. "What do you do of an evening for amusement
after the arduous toils of the day are past? Marbles?"
"No, sir," said the outraged one. "If I have any time to spare I amuse
myself with a little shorthand."
"Amuse!" exclaimed the other. He threw himself back in his chair and,
sternly checking its inclination to twirl again, sought for a flaw in the
armour of this paragon. "And what else do you do in the way of
recreation?"
"I've got a vivarium, sir."
Mr. Robert hesitated, but curiosity got the better of his dignity. "What's
that?" he inquired.

"A thing I keep frogs and toads in, sir," was the reply.
Mr. Robert, staring hard at him, did his honest best to check the next
question, but it came despite himself. "Are you--are you married,
Bassett?" he inquired.
Bassett regarded him calmly. "No, sir," he said, with perfect gravity. "I
live at home with my mother."
The junior partner gave him a nod of dismissal, and