"Oh, well," said Dick, "I'm off. I'd be ashamed to be seen speaking to him."
Now this was an unfortunate remark, as it reminded Jim of an incident which occurred only the previous evening. Mr. Broad, coming into the shop unexpectedly, had seen Peters slinking out.
"What did that customer want, Hartland?" he asked sharply.
Jim felt cornered for a moment, but replied steadily,—
"He wanted to know if there was a chance of getting a paper job."
This was a lie; but I warned you Jim had sadly deteriorated, and he dared not tell his master that the boy was his friend.
Thinking of this, he turned on Dick savagely, saying,—
"He's good enough for me if he isn't for you."
"All right," exclaimed Dick; "every one to his taste. Some people I know have a lot of taste—all bad. Good-night, old man. Hope you'll have a bath when you get home."
"My stars!" cried Curly, as Dick went off; "ain't we getting proud? Washing and charing must be goin' up. It ought to make you feel taller, Jimmy, talking to a toff like that."