"Certainly I will. Do you apprehend that he will complain of you?"
"I am pretty sure he will."
"Why?"
"He seems determined to find fault with me. However, I shall not be the first to complain. I propose to do my duty faithfully, and will bear his scolding as well as I can. If I suit you, sir, I shall be satisfied. I don't expect to suit Mr. Manson."
"Well said, Paul. I won't inquire into your relations with the book-keeper, but if he complains of you, you may rest assured that I will give you a chance to defend yourself."
"Thank you, sir; that is all I ask."
Paul returned to the office, and when, as he expected, Mr. Manson charged him with loitering on the way, he heard him with a cool contempt, which angered the book-keeper more than spoken words.
"Really, this is the most impertinent boy we ever had in the office. He does not seem to mind me any more than if I was a porter."
Accustomed to have boys quail before him, he was provoked at the coolness with which Paul bore his taunts and reproaches, and he felt all the more resolved either to get him dismissed, or to make him anxious to resign.
Among other things, he was accustomed to employ the office-boy to run on his private errands, though, of course, wholly unauthorized to do so, and he expected to employ Paul in the same manner.