newithEdwardIrememberedourrelationship,andrememberingthatforgotthedifferenceofpositionIputawaydeferenceandcarefulformsofspeechIansweredwithsimplebrevity.
“Itistimetogohome,”Isaid,turningthekeyinmydesk.
“You’llstayhere!”hereiterated.“Andtakeyourhandoffthatkey!leaveitinthelock!”
“Why?”askedI.“Whatcauseisthereforchangingmyusualplans?”
“DoasIorder,”wastheanswer,“andnoquestions!Youaremyservant,obeyme!Whathaveyoubeenabout—?”Hewasgoingoninthesamebreath,whenanabruptpauseannouncedthatragehadforthemomentgotthebetterofarticulation.
“Youmaylook,ifyouwishtoknow,”Ireplied.“Thereistheopendesk,therearethepapers.”
“Confoundyourinsolence!Whathaveyoubeenabout?”
“Yourwork,andhavedoneitwell.”
“Hypocriteandtwaddler!Smooth-faced,snivellinggreasehorn!”(Thislasttermis,Ibelieve,purely——shire,andalludestothehornofblack,rancidwhale-oil,usuallytobeseensuspendedtocart-wheels,andemployedforgreasingthesame.)
“Come,EdwardCrimsworth,enoughofthis.ItistimeyouandIwoundupaccounts.Ihavenowgivenyourservicethreemonths’trial,andIfinditthemostnauseousslaveryunderthesun.Seekanotherclerk.Istaynolonger.”
“What!doyoudaretogivemenotice?Stopatleastforyourwages.”Hetookdowntheheavygigwhiphangingbesidehismackintosh.
IpermittedmyselftolaughwithadegreeofscornItooknopainstotemperorhide.Hisfuryboiledup,andwhenhehadswornhalf-a-dozenvulgar,impiousoaths,without,however,venturingtoliftthewhip,hecontinued:
“I’vefoundyououtandknowyouthoroughly,youmean,whininglickspittle!WhathaveyoubeensayingalloverX——aboutme?answermethat!”
“You?Ihaveneitherinclinationnortemptationtotalkaboutyou.”
“Youlie!Itisyourpracticetotalkaboutmeitisyourconstanthabittomakepubliccomplaintofthetreatmentyoureceiveatmyhands.Youhavegoneandtolditfarandnear