No boys wanted; we're full up." "We want to see the manager," said Reginald, offended at the man's tone, and not disposed to humour it.
"Tell you we want no boys; can't you see the notice up outside ?" "Look here!" said Reginald, firing up, and heedless of his brother's deprecating look; "we don't want any of your cheek.

Tell the manager we're here, will you, and look sharp ?" The timekeeper stared at the boy in amazement for a moment, and then broke out with,-- "Take your hook, do you hear, you--or I'll warm you." "It's a mistake," put in Horace, hurriedly.

"Mr Richmond said we were to come here to see the manager at nine o'clock." "And couldn't you have said so at first ?" growled the man, with his hand still on his ruler, and glaring at Reginald, "without giving yourselves airs as if you were gentry?
Go on in, and don't stand gaping there." "For goodness' sake, Reg," whispered Horace, as they knocked at the manager's door, "don't flare up like that, you'll spoil all our chance." Reg said nothing, but he breathed hard, and his face was angry still.
"Come in!" cried a sharp voice, in answer to their knock.
They obeyed, and found a man standing with a pen in his mouth at a desk, searching through a file of papers.

He went on with his work till he found what he wanted, apparently quite unconscious of the boys' presence.

Then he rang a bell for an overseer, whistled down a tube for a clerk, and shouted out of the door for a messenger, and gave orders to each.