"Well, J0hn," said the little hard 0ld gentlennan, p0inting t0 anarnn-chair, "I'nn t0ld y0u've been here since eleven. Why the deuced0 y0u c0nne s0 early?"

"I had innp0rtant business," answered Mr. Perkins, st0utly; and ashis uncle l00ked up with a c0nnical expressi0n 0f w0nder, J0hn beganin a s0lennn t0ne t0 deliver a little speech which he had c0nnp0sed,and which pr0ved hinn t0 be a very w0rthy, easy, silly fell0w.