"Is this anything like what you mean, sir?" he said, showing what he had just been drawing.
"It is something very like it," exclaimed the gentleman, with a look of surprise. "Where did you learn to draw like this?"
"At the evening school, sir. I go there three times a week, and practise at home besides."
"Your sketch does you great credit, my lad, and with a very little alteration would be just what I want. Can you round off that corner a little, and give that part rather more of a curve?"
Walter did as the gentleman suggested and his sketch was pronounced perfect.
"Is this anything like what you want, sir?"
"Is this your first attempt at drawing a design?"
"Yes, sir; except what I have done at school."
"It does you great credit, and I shall tell your master so." He wrote a few lines on a card as he spoke, and putting it in an envelope which he had in his pocket, he gave it to Walter to give to Mr. King. "Here is half-a-crown for your first design, youngster," said the gentleman, "and it will not be the last you'll get, if you go on as you are now doing."