“Now, don’t be so fast, Reuben; there’s lots of time. Wait till I’ve had supper, and got rested up a bit. Traveling don’t seem to agree with me. How are things at the mill?”
“Rather slow, sir.”
“What! you must be fooling!”
“No, I am not. Trade all around has been slack this summer.”
“Humph! That must be because you are only a boy. Just you wait till I get to managing things, then I guess business will hum.”
“I do the best I can,” I replied, not liking to be talked to in this fashion.
“Of course, of course; but then you’re nothing but a boy, and a boy can’t do half as well as a man.”
“I am doing as well as any one in these parts. I go ’way over to Bayport for orders.”
Mr. Norton started slightly.