Indeed, it was rather a relief to see the mild senior partner instead of the sharp-eyed junior, who was, some of us thought, far too quick to perceive anything amiss.

Jack's face brightened as much as any one's at the circumstance.

For a moment he forgot all his wrath, and thought only of his poor sister.
He followed Mr Merrett quickly to the door of the partners' room and said eagerly, "May I speak to you a moment, sir ?" "Yes, my man; come in," was the encouraging reply.
"Gone to tell tales, I suppose," said Crow, as the door closed on the two.
"No, he's not," said I, ready to take up the gauntlet for my friend; "and you'd better not say it again!" "Oh, I say! Look here," said Doubleday, "don't _you_ begin at that game, young shaver! We're used to it from your chum bull's-eye, but I'm not going to let you start at it.

Besides, Crow wouldn't like it.

Get on with your work, do you hear ?" Jack reappeared in a minute with a grateful face, which showed at once that his application had been successful.
"Good-bye," said he, coming to my desk; "I'll send you a line;" and without another word to any one he was gone.
"He's a cool fish, that friend of yours!" said Doubleday, that afternoon to me.