“My sister will be very angry,” said Mr. Remington, “but I can’t help it. Why should I take my nephew into my employ, when he has not a particle of business capacity? It is too much to ask.”
As Joshua was to profit by the refusal, he agreed perfectly with Mr. Remington. His heart glowed with exultation as he thought of his changed circumstances. Why, he was really a partner in the concern, in virtue of his one-tenth interest. Was ever rise so rapid? Reflecting that Mr. Remington had taken him at six hundred dollars less than was offered with his nephew, he began to entertain quite a lofty opinion of his business abilities, and put on some very amusing airs behind the counter, which his senior partner secretly laughed at.
“Drummond,” said Mr. Remington the next day, “I must leave you in charge of the store for a day or two. I am called into the country on business--to collect a bill of a hundred dollars due us. As you share the profits, you are interested, too. Can you manage alone?”
“Oh, yes,” said Joshua, confidently.
“I don’t expect to be gone over two days.”
So the next day and the next also Joshua was alone. On the second, an elderly man, with a carpetbag, walked into the store. He looked at Joshua with some surprise.
“Where is Mr. Remington?” he said.
“He is away for a day or two.”
“Where is he gone?”
“Into the country, on business.”