"He shall be here, sir," he said, "and I thank you heartily for
engaging him; and I do think that he means this time to behave
himself."

"I do mean it," the boy said. "You shall have no reason to complain
of me, sir."

Shortly afterwards Hector met the officer who had spoken of the
boy.

"Well, have you thought anything more of young ne'er-do-well?"

"I have engaged him."

"You have, after the warning I gave you? Well, I hope you will not
have reason to repent it."

"I do not think that I shall. I can quite believe that he is a
mischievous young varlet, he shows it in his face; but I am sure
that he is shrewd, and I believe that he will be faithful. At any
rate I think that we took to each other, and that he has made up
his mind to try for once to stay in a place. He really seemed in
earnest about it, and if he keeps to his promises I think that he
will be just the sort of lad to suit me."

"Well, we shall see," the officer said; "but if he turns out badly,
please remember that I warned you against him."

"And if he turns out well," Hector said with a laugh, "I shall not
fail also to remind you of your prognostications."