"Yes, sir."
"Have you ever been in a position before?"
"Not in an office."
"What under heaven could induce Mr. Bradford to engage you?" asked the book-keeper, irritably.
"I must refer you to Mr. Bradford himself," answered Paul, with dignity.
"I shall certainly speak to Mr. Bradford on the subject," said Mr. Manson, significantly. "I am inclined to think there is some mistake. We have a boy already."
"Mr. Bradford told me he wished to leave, and that in a day he would initiate me into my duties."
"Mr. Bradford has about the same as engaged another boy," said the book-keeper, with increasing irritability. "He must have forgotten it."
"I shall be ready to make way for him whenever Mr. Bradford says the word," said Paul, quietly.
Manson was surprised and displeased to find Paul so calm. It was easy to see that he was not a boy who would allow himself to be bullied or trodden upon. Mr. Manson already hated him for that. He was a natural tyrant, and liked to see boys quail under his displeasure. The present boy was a mild, good-natured boy, whom he could easily make nervous. Indeed, John Graves was a boy more fond of study than business, and he hailed the termination of his engagement with the more pleasure, because Mr. Manson found so much fault, and gave him so much discomfort.