It was not all unpaid work, however, Unit In; did in Leeds; for sometimes country merchants and manufacturers •mpluyedhimlobuj and sell for them ' :iii' 'own, and lie got a commission on these transactions. Such dealers with Tom Ashton found him shrewd and reliable, and they put their business in his hands with great confidence. They always felt sure that he would make a good bargain for them,

This day, then, Tom had spent a busy couple of hours in Leeds; he had been at the Post-office, at two of the banks, and at the shops of various dealers, and he now appeared at the coach office in good time for the starting of the coach. The vehicle was being brought round from the inn yard by the hostler and two stable-men; the horse.3 were being got ready, the passengers began to appear, parcels and luggage were piled on the pavement ready to go into the boot. " Now then, Bill," cried Tom, addres sing the hostler, " give us a hand to get the things in, and you two can go for the, horses : Bill will give a hand with the harness when you bring them. Look alive, now." And to show them all a good example, Tom looked very much alive himself, in an instant his coat was oft and hang ing on the handle of the drag, and he was throwing up parcels and bags to the hostler, who slowed them away in the boot. Then a I'ost Office official ap peared wit li mail-bags, which had to be carefully locked up; then messengers came with late, letters; then the pas sengers began to climb up, each anxious to get the best place; then the stable men appeared leading the horses, and the hostler had to see that they were properly harnessed to the coach; then a dispute arose between the proprietor of the coach and a passenger about the fare; then a man who had booked an outside place wanted to go inside be cause it looked like rain, and another man who had booked for the inside wanted togooutsidebecause, the weather was so close, You think that travelling in the days before, express trains was a quiet, dull, uneventful business. 