unnatural at hi time of life with a very slender stock of money and a still more scanty stock of friends what could he do � said tu try that register office again he smiled at himself as he walked away with a quick step for an instant before he had been his own he did not laugh himself out of the intention however for on he went to himself as he approached the place all kinds of splendid possibilities and too for that matter and thinking himself perhaps with good reason very fortunate to be endowed with so and sanguine a temperament the office looked just the same as when he had left it last and indeed with one or two exceptions there seemed to be the very same in the window that he had seen before there were the same masters and in want of virtuous servants and the same virtuous servants in want of masters and and the same magnificent estates for the of capital and the same enormous quantities of capital to be invested in estates and in short the same opportunities of all sorts for people who wanted to make their fortunes and a most proof it was of the national prosperity that people had not been found to avail themselves of such advantages long ago as stopped to look in at the window an old gentleman happened to stop too and carrying his eye along the window panes from left to right in search of some capital text which should be to his own case caught sight of this old gentleman s figure and instinctively withdrew his eyes from the window to observe the same more closely he was a sturdy old fellow in a broad skirted blue coat made pretty large to fit easily and with no particular waist his legs clothed in breeches and high and his head protected by a low crowned broad white hat such as a wealthy might wear he wore his coat and his double chin rested in the folds of a white � not one of your stiff but a good easy old fashioned white neck cloth that a man might go to bed in and be none the worse for but what principally attracted the attention of was the old gentleman s eye � never was such a clear twinkling honest merry happy eye as that and there he stood looking a little upward with on hand thrust into the breast of his coat and the other playing with his old fashioned gold watch chain his head thrown a little on one side and his hat a little more on one side than his head but that was evidently accident not his ordinary way of wearing it with such a pleasant smile playing about his mouth and such a expression of mingled simplicity kind and lighting up his jolly old face that would lave been content to have stood there and looked at him until evening and to have forgotten meanwhile that there life and adventures of was such a thing as a mind or a countenance to be met with in the whole wide world but even a very remote approach to this gratification was not to be made for although he seemed quite unconscious of having been the subject of observation he looked casually at and the latter fearful of giving offence resumed his scrutiny of the window instantly still the old gentleman stood there glancing from to and could not forbear raising his eyes to his face again upon the and of his appearance was something so engaging and so much worth and there were so many little lights hovering about the corners of his mouth and eyes that it was not a mere amusement but a positive pleasure and delight to look at him this being the case it is no wonder that the old caught in the fact more than once at such times colored and looked embarrassed for the truth is that he had begun to wonder whether the stranger could by any possibility be looking for a clerk or secretary � and thinking this he felt as if the old gentleman must know it long as all this takes to tell it was not more than a couple of minutes in passing as the stranger was moving away caught his eye again and in the awkwardness of the moment stammered out an apology no offence � oh no offence said the old man this was said in such a hearty tone and the voice was so exactly what it should have been from such a speaker and there was such a cordiality in the manner that was to speak again a great many opportunities here sir he said half smiling as he towards the window a great people willing and anxious to be employed have seriously thought so very often i dare say replied the old man poor fellows poor fellows he moved away as he said this but seeing that was about to speak good his pace as if he were unwilling to cut him short after a little of that hesitation which may be sometimes observed between two people in the street who have exchanged a nod and are both uncertain whether they shall turn back and speak or not found himself at the old man s side you were about to speak young gentleman what were you going to say merely that i almost hoped � i mean to say thought � you had some object in consulting those said aye aye what object now � what object returned the old man looking at did you think i wanted a situation now � eh did you think i did shook his head ha ha laughed the old gentleman rubbing his hands and wrists as if he were washing them a very natural thought at all events after seeing me gazing at those bills i thought the 