"Has he though?" said the lawyer quickly. "Well, it is uncommonly good of Brading, and you are a lucky fellow to get such chance to make a beginning. How came Brading to hear about you?"
"Oh! Jack Brading is in my class at school, and we have always been good chums, though some of the fellows did not like it, because his father kept a shop. Thank you, sir! You were a friend of my father's, I know, and so it will be all right. Good-night!"
And before Mr. Andrews was aware of it, Arthur was off down the street at the same railroad pace as before.
"That was a wonderful piece of good fortune, to meet Andrews just at this time. Now I can tell Brading that my mother is not so well, but that my father's man of business thinks I ought to accept his offer." Arthur whispered this to himself as he stopped at the fishmonger's door and looked in at the well-stocked shop.
Arthur had to pause before going in, for he was not in the habit of fetching errands, and he had almost forgotten what he wanted, until he heard a customer inside ask the price of sole, and then he remembered what he had been sent for, and was careful to note the price given to the other customer.
"Eighteen pence a pound," said the fishmonger, picking up a fish and holding it up. "That will weigh about a pound," he said, putting it into the scale.
"It is dreadfully dear," said the customer dubiously.
"Not for sole, ma'am, at this time of year. Can I serve you, sir?" added the man, turning to Arthur.
"Yes, I want a small sole filleted, enough for a sick lady's supper—for Mrs. Murray," added Arthur.
The man looked at him for a minute, as if mutely asking a question, and then served the lady. When she had gone out of the shop, he leaned over the counter and said in a quiet tone: "You don't want it added to the account, I hope, sir?"