And if I did become engrossed in the figures and entries before me, he was sure to trip me up with some act or speech of pleasantry.
"Why don't you stick a nib on the end of your nose and write with it ?" he inquired, as I was poring over an account-book in front of me, trying to make out the rather minute hieroglyphics contained therein.
I withdrew my nose, blushingly, to a more moderate distance, a motion which appeared greatly to entertain my fellow-clerks, whose amusement only added to my confusion.
"Hullo! I say," said Doubleday, "no blushing allowed here, is there, Wallop ?" "Rather not.

No one ever saw _you_ blush," replied Mr Wallop.
This turned the laugh against Doubleday, and I, despite my bashfulness, was indiscreet enough to join in it.
Mr Doubleday was greatly incensed.
"Get on with your work, do you hear?
you young cad!" he cried.

"Do you suppose we pay you eight bob a week to sit there and grin?
How many accounts have you checked, I'd like to know ?" "Six," I said, nervously, quite uneasy at Mr Doubleday's sudden seriousness.
"Six in two hours--that's three an hour." "Quite right; not bad for Dubbs, that, is it, Crow ?" put in Wallop.
"No.

He's reckoned it up right this time." "I wish _you'd_ reckon it up right now and then," retorted Doubleday.
"How about the change out of those two handkerchiefs ?" "There is no change," said Crow, sulkily; "they were sixpence each." "What's the use of saying that, when they are stuck up fourpence- halfpenny each in the window, you young thief ?" "You can get them yourself, then," replied the injured Crow.

"I'll go no more jobs for you--there! I'm not the junior now, and I'm hanged if I'll put up with it." "You'll probably be hanged, whether you put up with it or not," was Mr Doubleday's retort, who, apparently desirous to change the conversation, suddenly rounded on me, as I was looking up and listening to the edifying dialogue.
"Now then, young Batchelor, dawdling again.