But I reflected that this would be, after all, foolish.

I should certainly not be allowed to see him, and even if I were, I could not of course return to the office with the infection about me.

Poor Jack! At least it was a comfort that he had some one to look after him.
My first care, after the receipt of the letter, was to seek an interview with the partners and explain matters to them.

And this I found not a very formidable business.

Mr Barnacle, indeed, did say something about its being awkward just when they were so busy to do without a clerk.
But Mr Merrett overruled this by reminding his partner that in a week or two his nephew would be coming to the office, and that, to begin with, he could fill up the vacant place.
"Besides," said he, with a warmth which made me feel quite proud of my friend--"besides, Smith is too promising a lad to spare." So I was able to write a very reassuring letter to good Mrs Shield, and tell her it would be all right about Jack's place when he came back.
Meanwhile, I entreated her to let me know regularly how he was getting on, and to tell me if his sister was better, and, in short, to keep me posted up in all the Smith news that was going.
This done, I set myself to face the prospect of a month or so of life in London without my chum.
I didn't like the prospect.