"Very well, sir, thank you. I believe I am giving every satisfaction," said Joey, with his young complacency.
Anthony regarded him for a moment in deep thought, and then asked him how long he had been in the firm's employ.
"About two years," said Joey.
"And what's your salary?"
"A hundred and thirty, sir."
"Oh, well, I must make inquiries, and see if it isn't getting time to be thinking of a rise." Nobody had thought of a rise for poor Liddon, senior, who had been worth a dozen of this boy. "And how is your mother getting on with the—the little business she has entered into?"
"I hardly know," said Joey, with a blush and a stammer. "I don't see very much of them now."
"Why not?"
"I'm sure I don't know, sir. Somehow I can't take to the tea-room scheme. I can't bear to see my mother and sisters doing that sort of thing, when our family has never been connected with trade in any way."
"Don't despise trade, young man. You are connected with it yourself—and not at all to your disadvantage, it strikes me—as your father was before you."