“Yes, I could spare him, I think, if he would like to go.”
“All right, then. I shall be passing your office in the morning, and will take him along and show him the Sea Eagle.”
“You are very kind, sir,” said Harry, gratefully.
He was rather surprised at the amount of attention he received from his employer and the captain. Indeed, he had reason to be, for I may remark for the benefit of my country readers, whose expectations might otherwise be unduly raised, that city merchants rarely offer a prospective partnership to a boy on the first day of his entering their employment. Had Harry possessed more experience, he might have been led to suspect that there was something queer about it; but he reflected that in the city things were different from what he had been accustomed to in the country. Even Mr. Porter, who only kept a common village store, had not said anything about taking him into partnership at any period, however remote; but here was a wealthy city merchant who held out the tempting inducement. No wonder our hero indulged in some gorgeous castle-building, and began to dream of what he would do when he was junior partner in the city firm of Fairchild and Raymond.
At length the dinner was over, and the three walked back in company to the office in Nassau Street.
“What shall I do, Mr. Fairchild?” asked Harry.
“You may keep on with your copying,” said his employer, carelessly. “I have some business with Captain Brandon, and shall be away with him most of the afternoon. Yon can attend to the office.”
“Yes, sir.”