Apply within." Next instant Jeffreys stood within.
"I see you want an assistant," said he to the old spectacled bookseller who inquired his business.
"That's right." "Will you take me ?" The man glanced up and down at his visitor and said doubtfully,-- "Don't know you--are you in the trade ?" "No, I've just left school." "What do you know about books ?" "I love them," replied the candidate simply.
The bookseller's face lit up and shot a glow of hope into the boy's heart.
"You love them.

I like that.

But take my advice, young fellow, and if you love books, don't turn bookseller." Jeffreys' face fell.
"I'm not afraid of getting to hate them," said he.
The man beamed again.
"What's your name, my lad ?" "John Jeffreys." "And you've just left school?
What school ?" Alas! poor Jeffreys! It cost him a struggle to utter the name.
"Bolsover." "Bolsover, eh?
Do you know Latin ?" "Yes--and Greek," replied the candidate.
The bookseller took up a book that lay on the table.

It was an old and valuable edition of Pliny's _Epistles_.
"Read us some of that." Jeffreys was able fairly well to accomplish the task, greatly to the delight of the old bookseller.
"Capital! You're the first chap I ever had who could read Pliny off." Jeffreys' face lit up.

The man spoke as if the thing was settled.
"How will fifteen shillings a week and your meals suit you ?" said he.
"Perfectly!" replied the candidate.
"Hum! you've got a character, of course ?" Poor Jeffreys' face fell.
"Do you mean testimonials ?" "No.