"It's certainly not been our usual way of doing business."
Andrew glowered at his desk.
"He said he was going to leave the business to me, and in forty-eight hours he was taking more responsibilities on his shoulders than he had for years! He barely has the decency to ask me for my opinion now; and when I give it, he tells me it's timid. Timid!" The junior partner's voice rose to a shout. "He just goes at things like a bull, and before I've time to get in two words edgeways, the thing is settled and he's out of the office whistling!"
"That whistling's a queer thing he's taken to," observed the clerk.
"He was doing it coming home from church last Sunday."
"Verra strange, verra strange," commented Mr. Thomieson.
He seemed more struck with the peculiarity of the senior partner's conduct; Andrew with its offensiveness.
"He shows a fine grasp of things all the same," added the clerk. "In that way it fairly does me good sir, to see him so speerited. It minds me of old times."
"A proper like business we'd have had to-day if he'd gone on like this in old times!" grumbled Andrew. "He gets through things quick enough, I admit; but I tell you he does not take the same interest in them. He talks of 'dry details'!"