“And you’ll take me in Gilbert’s place?”
“Yes, I’ll do that, too. But you must do better than you did last time. The fact is, John, you were lazy and careless. I was sorry to have you go, as you are my cousin; but I couldn’t blame Mr. Sands much.”
“Oh, I’ll turn over a new leaf, cousin Simon,” said John, readily. “You shan’t have anything to complain of.”
“I hope not.”
Here Gilbert returned from his errand, and the conversation necessarily closed.
Gilbert nodded politely to John, though he took no particular fancy to him.
“So the boss is away?” said John, sociably.
“Yes, he has been called away.”
“I suppose you are glad of it?”
“Why should I be?”