Why, sir, when I came to your father, sir, we never looked at the clock, we kept our minds on the work." "How long ago, Wickes ?" "Thirty-one years, sir, come next Michaelmas.

And glad I was to get the job, too.

You see, sir, I had just come to the country, and with the missus and a couple of kids--" "Thirty-one years! Great Caesar! And you've worked at this desk for thirty-one years! And what have you got out of it ?" "Well, sir, not what you might call a terrible lot.

I hadn't the eddication for much, as you might say--but--well, there's my little home, and we've lived happy there, the missus and me, and the kids--at least, till the war came." The old man paused abruptly.
"You're right, Wickes, by Jove," exclaimed Jack, starting from his seat and gripping the old man's hand.

"You have made a lot out of it--and you gave as fine a boy as ever stepped in uniform to your country.