I think he could get you a nomination for a Government office." "What, a clerkship ?"--I said, ruefully, having hitherto affected to despise all the race of her Majesty's quill drivers, from Horner downwards.
"Yes, sir,"-- she said,--"`a clerkship;' and a very good thing, too! You need not turn up your nose at it, Master Frank; _I_ can see you, although I _do_ wear glasses! Grander men than you think yourself, sir, have not despised such an opening! Here _is_ the vicar,"-- she added, as her brother walked into the room.--"How lucky! we can ask him now." The vicar overheard her remark.
"Hullo, Frank!" said he; "what is it, that Sally and you are conspiring together?
Can I do anything for you, my boy ?"--he continued, in his nice kind way,--"if so, only ask me; and if it is in my power, you know that I will do it." "He wishes to get into a Government office; don't you think you could help him ?" said Miss Pimpernell.
"You want to be in harness, my boy, eh ?"--said the vicar, turning to me.--"That's right, Frank.

Literature will come on, in due course, all in good time.

There's nothing like having regular work to do, however trifling.

It not only gives you a daily object in life, but also steadies your mind, causing you better to appreciate higher intellectual employment! I thought, however, my boy, that you looked down on `Her Majesty's hard bargains,' as poor Government clerks are somewhat unjustly termed ?" "That was, because I thought they were a pack of idlers, doing nothing, and earning a menial salary for it.

`Playing from ten to to four, like the fountains in Trafalgar Square,' as _Punch_ declares," I said.
"Ah!" said the vicar, "that is a mistake, as you will soon find out when you belong to their body.