In the course of the day he had a good many callers; some to make inquiries, some to offer different things in pledge. Of these latter the majority were children, with whom he declined to negotiate.
"Who sent you?"
"Mother."
"Go home and tell her she must come herself."
He would only do business with grown-up people. Setting before himself a straight and honest rule of life, he was not the man to wander from it for the sake of a little profit.
Of the other description of callers a fair proportion entered the shop out of idle curiosity. He had pleasant words for all, and gave change for sixpences and shillings with as much courtesy as if each transaction was a gain to him--as, indeed, it was, for no man or woman who entered with an unfavorable opinion of him (influenced by certain rumors to his discredit which had been circulated by Mr. Whimpole) departed without having their minds disturbed by his urbanity and genial manners. "I don't see any harm in him," was the general verdict from personal evidence; "he's as nice a spoken man as I ever set eyes on."
On the evening of this first day he expressed his satisfaction at the business he had done.
"Our venture will turn out well," he said to Rachel. "The flag of fortune is waving over us."
It was eight o'clock, and although he scarcely expected further custom, he kept the gas burning in the shop window.
"Light is an attraction," he observed; "it is better than an advertisement in the papers."