This question was put to Willie.
“Please, sir, are you the Mr Auberly who was a’most skumfished with smoke at the Beverly Square fire t’other day, in tryin’ to git hold o’ yer sister?”
Fred could not but smile as he admitted the fact.
“Please, sir, I hope yer sister ain’t the wuss of it, sir.”
“Not much, I hope; thank you for inquiring; but how come you to know about the fire, and to be interested in my sister?”
“’Cause I was there, sir; an’ it was my brother, sir, Frank Willders, as saved your sister.”
“Was it, indeed!” exclaimed Fred, becoming suddenly interested. “Come, let me hear more about your brother.”
Willie, nothing loth, related every fact he was acquainted with in regard to Frank’s career, and his own family history, in the course of which he revealed the object of his visit to Mr Tippet. When he had finished, Frederick Auberly shook hands with him and said:
“Now, Willie, go and deliver your note. If the application is successful, well; but if it fails, or you don’t like your work, just call upon me, and I’ll see what can be done for you.”
“Yes, sir, and thankee,” said Willie; “where did you say I was to call, sir?”