"I am glad to see you, my boy," he said. "So you didn't forget the appointment. How long have you been here?"
"Half an hour, sir."
"I am here unusually early this morning. I came purposely to see you, and introduce you to those with whom you will labor. Mr. Gilbert, this is a young man who is going to enter our establishment. His name is Richard Hunter. Mr. Gilbert, Richard, is our book-keeper."
Mr. Gilbert nodded slightly, not a little surprised at his employer's cordiality to the new boy.
"So the fellow was right, after all," he thought. "But it can't be possible he is to receive ten dollars a week."
"Come out into the ware-room, and I will show you about," continued Mr. Rockwell. "How do you think you shall like business, Richard?"
Dick was on the point of saying "Bully," but checked himself just in time, and said instead, "Very much indeed, sir."
"I hope you will. If you do well you may depend upon promotion. I shall not forget under what a heavy obligation I am to you, my brave boy."
What would the book-keeper have said, if he had heard this?
"How is the little boy, sir?" asked Dick.