"Oh, Bob's coming on too! But he has to begin at the beginning, you know!"
"Of course, naturally; he couldn't be expected to turn out at once a full-blown clerk."
"No," allows Pauline, with a light laugh, "he couldn't. He is learning to write now—not a soul in the office could read his drafts at first—and after that he'll have to turn his attention to spelling, and then, I believe, to the multiplication table."
"Oh, dear," exclaims Addie, very much taken aback, "is it as bad as that? I'm afraid he'll be rather a nuisance in the office than otherwise."
"Yes, I expect so, for the present. But he'll tell you all about it himself on Sunday."
"Is he coming on Sunday?"—eagerly.
"Of course! Why, you seem to forget that Kelvick is only seven miles off and they shut up shop—I mean, the office closes early on Saturday. I expect we shall have him over here every week—won't it be jolly, Addie?—and Hal too."
"And Hal too?"
"Yes. Jellett's boys are free to return to the bosom of their families, if they like, from Saturday to Monday; and I believe Mr. Armstrong wrote himself to tell him to be sure to come and welcome you home. Didn't he tell you?"
"No."