THE STORY OF MY LEGAL EXAMINATION. 2©7 



Fobbes and Grumbury agreed to look over this (Grumbury 

 v/as somewhat obstinate, in Buller's absence from town), and 

 I remained in the bank ; but I avoided luncheons. My 

 evenings in town were given up to relaxation, and my 

 mornings I, with difficulty, devoted to Buller, Fobbes and 

 Grumbury. In fact, I may say, that, after a time, finding 

 refreshing sleep at night incompatible with going to bed late 

 and getting to Grumbury's at nine A.M., I devoted my 

 evenings to the serious work of amusement, and the day 

 time to refreshing myself with as much sleep as I could get 

 at my desk behind the counter at Fobbes and Grumbury's. 



Summer and cricket came ; once I stayed away with 

 leave and missed the train : another time I stayed away> 

 without leave, and missed two trains. Buller frowned, 

 Fobbes shook his head, and Grumbuiy observed, " It wouldn't 

 do." Fobbes told me that " when he was a young man, he 

 came into the City with a crust, and had to work for his 

 daily bread. He had no cricket or amusements." I didn't 

 know if this was meant for an argument ; if it was, I had 

 nothing to say. I pitied poor Fobbes. Grumbury chimed 

 in that " he had been made to work ; had not known what 

 it was to have a holiday for years," which (I am sorry to say 

 it of Grumbury), was not the strict truth, as he never came 

 to the bank on Saturdays and had stopped away on Mon- 

 days and Wednesdays (having a countiy farm) for the last 

 twenty years. Buller only sighed. But all three partners 

 thought I had made a mistake in coming into the bank, and 

 so I retired, leaving the victory in the hands of Buller, 

 Fobbes and Grumburv. 



