MR. S M E E T H IS WORRIED 453

from what he imagined it would be when he w?as in the
Fourth at Worrell

"We live and learn, sir, don't we?" said Mr. Smeetn
vaguely.

"Do we? I dunno. People always say we do, don't
they? But I dunno. I doubt it sometimes, I do, Smeeth,
honestly," the other replied, first glancing at Mr, Smeeth
and then looking out of the window, through which
nothing could be seen but a ramshackle root and a few
chimney-pots beyond. A queer melancholy, quite unlike
the proper spirit of any office on Saturday morning, in-
vaded the room, and for a minute the pair of them were
lost in it.

"Well, well," cried Mr. Dersingham, with a sudden
briskness, "you'll have to see about getting another boy.
I'm sorry about that, though. That boy might have been
a useful chap later on. He's missed a good opening. If
that other fellow, Turgis, had gone, I don't think I'd
have minded very much. How's he getting on, that
fellow? I don't see much of him, but I must say I don't
like the look of him these days. He slouches about, look-
ing like nothing on earth. What's the matter with him?"

"I don't know, Mr. Dersingham. I've noticed it, too.
There's been something wrong with him lately. He does
his work, but only after a fashion, and it's not a fashion
I like, I must say. Something on his mind, I should say/'

'"And a thoroughly nasty mind too, by the look of
him! Well, look here, Smeeth, you'd better take him
on one side and have a good talk to him, Tell him I'm
not satisfied with him and you're not satisfied with him,
and that if he doesn't buck up pretty soon, he'll have to
clear out. Tell him he's a fool to himself, too, with the
business growing as it is and all sorts of chances coming