The Argosy — page 263: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Edina. 247 Mr. Preen was out: Peter Tanting, in his good nature, said all he could in favour of Charles, particularly that “he would be sure to do,” and then went away. Charles sat down on one of the chairs, and passed an hour gazing at the fire and listening to the scratching of pens going on at the desks. People were perpetually passing in and out: the green baize door seemed to be ever on the swing. Some brought messages ; some were marshalled to Mr. Prestleigh’s room. By-and-by, a youngish gentle- man—thirty-five, perhaps—came in, in a warm white over-coat; and, from the attention and seriousness suddenly evinced by the clerks generally, Charles rightly guessed him to be Mr. Preen. He passed through the room without speaking, and was followed by the head clerk. A few minutes more, and Charles was sent for to Mr. Preen’s room. That gentleman—who had a great profusion of light curling hair and a " pleasant face and manner—was alone, and standing with his back to the fire near his table. He asked Charles very much the same ques- tions that Mr. Stroud had asked, and particularly what his recent occupation had been. Charles told the truth: that he had not been brought up to any occupation, but that an unfortunate reverse of family circumstances was obliging him to seek one. “You have not been in a solicitor’s office, then! Not been accus- tomed to the copying of deeds?” cried Mr. Preen, Charles confessed he had not. But he took the courage to say he had no doubt he could do any copying requred of him, and to beg that he might be tried. “Ts your handwriting a neat one ?” “Yes, it is,” said Charles eagerly, for he was speaking only truth. “Neat and good, and very plain.” ‘You think you could copy quickly and correctly ?” “JT am sure I could, sir. I hope you will try me,” he added, a curious wail of entreaty in his tone, that perhaps he was himself unconscious of; but which was nevertheless apparent to Mr. Preen. “‘T have been seeking after something so long, day after day, week after week, that I have nearly lost heart.” Perhaps that last avowal was not the best aid to Charles’s success ; or would not have been with most men of business. With Mr. Preen, who was very good-natured, it told rather for than against him. The lawyer mused. They wanted a copying clerk very badly indeed ; being two hands short and extremely busy: but the question was, could this young man accomplish the work? A thought struck him. ‘Suppose you were to stay now and copy a page this afternoon?” suggested Mr. Preen. ‘You see, if you cannot do the writing, it would be useless your attempting it: but if you can, we will engage you,” Io comicbooks.com