“Well, then, for the first part of your story, my sarvice to you and you lies; and as for the second, that remains to be proved.”
Mr Hodgson’s temper was not softened by this reply of old Tom. My blood was also up, for I had borne much already; and young Tom was bursting with impatience to take my part. He walked carelessly by the head clerk, saying to me as he passed by, “Why, I thought, Jacob, you were ’prentice to the river; but it seems that you’re bound to the counting-house. How long do you mean to sarve?”
“I don’t know,” replied I, as I walked away sulkily; “but I wish I was out of my time.”
“Very well, sir, I shall report your behaviour to Mr Drummond. I’ll make him know your tricks.”
“Tricks! you won’t let him know his tricks. His duty is to take his trick at the wheel,” replied old Tom; “not to be brought up at your cheating tricks at the desk.”
“Cheating tricks, you old scoundrel, what do you mean by that?” replied Mr Hodgson, in a rage.
“My father means ledgerdemain, I suppose,” replied young Tom.
This repartee from a quarter so little expected sent off the head clerk more wroth than ever.
“You seemed to hit him hard there, Tom,” said his father; “but I can’t say that I understand how.”
“You’ve had me taught to read and write, father,” replied young Tom; “and a’ter that, a lad may teach himself everything. I pick up every day, here and there; and I never see a thing or a word that I don’t understand but I find out the meaning when I can. I picked up that hard word at Bartlemy fair.”