"Was the young un saying he could find his way home by himself after that supper last night, eh?
My eye, that's a good 'un, isn't it, Crow ?" "Nice gratitude," cried Crow, "after our carrying him home and propping him up against his own front door." "I wonder what his friend Smith thought of it ?" said Wallop; "he must have been shocked." "When you fellows have done," I said, who had felt bound to submit to all this with the best grace I could, "I'll get on with my work." "What a joker the fellow is!" said Doubleday.

"One would think he was always at his work." "I want to work now," I said.

"I do indeed." "Do you indeed ?" said Doubleday, mocking my tones and making a low bow.
"Since when did you take a fancy for hard labour ?" "Hard labour ?" At that moment the door opened and Jack Smith entered.
I could notice the quick start he gave as the words fell suddenly on his ear.

He gave one scared look round the office, and then went quietly to his desk.
At the sight of him there was an abrupt silence amongst us.

Crow and Wallop stopped short in the middle of their exclamation.