We must hope for the best, anyhow." And with a brotherly grip of the hand they turned over and went to sleep.
Reginald presented himself at the _Rocket_ next morning in an unusual state of trepidation.

He had half made up his mind to march straight to the manager's room and tell him boldly what had happened, and take his discharge from him.

But Horace dissuaded him.
"After all," he said, "Durfy may think better of it." "Upon my word I hardly know whether I want him to," said Reginald, "except for young Gedge's sake and mother's.

Anyhow, I'll wait and see, if you like." Mr Durfy was there when he arrived, bearing no traces of last night's _fracas_, except a scowl and a sneer, which deepened as he caught sight of his adversary.

Reginald passed close to his table, in order to give him an opportunity of coming to the point at once; but to his surprise the overseer took no apparent notice of him, and allowed him to go to his place and begin work as usual.
"I'd sooner see him tearing his hair than grinning like that," said young Gedge, in a whisper.