“I am glad he reposes so much confidence in you, Ben.  I hope you won’t lose his money.”

“Oh, I don’t carry any.  He buys on thirty days.  All I have to do is to select the goods.”

“Perhaps it is for the best that you go, after all,” said Mrs. Barclay.  “At any rate, I hope so.”

At half-past seven o’clock on Monday morning Ben stood on the platform of the Pentonville station, awaiting the arrival of the train.

“Where are you going?” said a voice.

Ben, turning, saw that it was Tom Davenport who had spoken.

“I am going to New York,” he answered briefly.

“Has Crawford discharged you?”

“Why do you ask?  Would you like to apply for the position?” asked Ben coolly.

“Do you think I would condescend to be a grocer’s boy?” returned Tom disdainfully.

“I don’t know.”

“If I go into business it will be as a merchant.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

“You didn’t say what you were going to New York for?”

“I have no objection to tell you, as you are anxious to know; I am going to the city to buy goods.”

Tom looked not only amazed, but incredulous.

“That’s a likely story,” said he, after a pause.

“It is a true story.”

“Do you mean to say Crawford trusts you buy goods for him?”

“So it seems.”

“He must be getting weak-headed.”

“Suppose you call and give him that gratifying piece of information.”

Just then the train came thundering up, and Ben jumped aboard.  Tom Davenport looked after him with a puzzled glance.

“I wonder whether that boy tells the truth,” he said to himself.  “He thinks too much of himself, considering what he is.”

It never occurred to Tom that the remark would apply even better to him than the boy he was criticising.  As a rule we are the last to recognize our own faults, however quick we may be to see the faults of others.

Two hours later Ben stood in front of the large dry-goods jobbing house of Stackpole & Rogers, in White Street.

He ascended the staircase to the second floor, which was very spacious and filled with goods in great variety.

“Where is the department of prints?” he inquired of a young man near the door.

He was speedily directed and went over at once.  He showed the salesman in charge a letter from Mr. Crawford, authorizing him to select a certain amount of goods.

“You are rather a young buyer,” said the salesman, smiling.

“It is the first time I have served in that way,” said Ben modestly; “but I know pretty well what Mr. Crawford wants.”

Half an hour was consumed in making his selections.

“You have good taste,” said the salesman, “judging from your selections.”

“Thank you.”

“If you ever come to the city to look for work, come here, and I will introduce you to the firm.”