hpieces.Mr.Crimsworthlookedfromsidetoside,andseemedatoneglancetocomprehendallthatwasgoingonhealighted,andleavinghishorseandgigtothecareofamanwhohastenedtotakethereinsfromhishand,hebidmefollowhimtothecounting-house.WeentereditaverydifferentplacefromtheparloursofCrimsworthHall—aplaceforbusiness,withabare,plankedfloor,asafe,twohighdesksandstools,andsomechairs.Apersonwasseatedatoneofthedesks,whotookoffhissquarecapwhenMr.Crimsworthentered,andinaninstantwasagainabsorbedinhisoccupationofwritingorcalculating—Iknownotwhich.
Mr.Crimsworth,havingremovedhismackintosh,satdownbythefire.Iremainedstandingnearthehearthhesaidpresently—
“Steighton,youmayleavetheroomIhavesomebusinesstotransactwiththisgentleman.Comebackwhenyouhearthebell.”
Theindividualatthedeskroseanddeparted,closingthedoorashewentout.Mr.Crimsworthstirredthefire,thenfoldedhisarms,andsatamomentthinking,hislipscompressed,hisbrowknit.Ihadnothingtodobuttowatchhim—howwellhisfeatureswerecut!whatahandsomemanhewas!Whence,then,camethatairofcontraction—thatnarrowandhardaspectonhisforehead,inallhislineaments?
Turningtomehebeganabruptly:
“Youarecomedownto——shiretolearntobeatradesman?”
“Yes,Iam.”
“Haveyoumadeupyourmindonthepoint?Letmeknowthatatonce.”
“Yes.”
“Well,Iamnotboundtohelpyou,butIhaveaplaceherevacant,ifyouarequalifiedforit.Iwilltakeyouontrial.Whatcanyoudo?Doyouknowanythingbesidesthatuselesstrashofcollegelearning—Greek,Latin,andsoforth?”
“Ihavestudiedmathematics.”
“Stuff!Idaresayyouhave.”
“IcanreadandwriteFrenchandGerman.”
“Hum!”Hereflectedamoment,thenopeningadrawerinadesknearhimtookoutaletter,andgaveittome.
“Canyoureadthat?”heasked.
ItwasaGermancommercialletterItranslateditIcouldnottellwhetherhewasgratifiedornot—hiscountenanceremainedfixed.
“Itiswell,”hesaid,afterapause,“thatyouareacquaintedwithsomethinguseful,somethingthatmayenableyoutoearnyourboardandlodging:sinceyouknowFrenchandGerman,Iwilltakeyouassecondclerktomanagetheforeigncorrespondenceofthehouse.Ishallgiveyouagoo