"Humph! Why did you do it, then?"
"Because I was careless, and not minding what I was about," replied Eben. "I was thinking of something else when I ought to have been thinking of my work."
Now, Mr. Francis had settled it in his own mind that Eben would try to excuse himself, that he, Mr. Francis, would put him down completely, and then, if Eben appeared very much overcome, he would relent and forgive him. He was a gentleman who had a great opinion of his own penetration, and it was naturally aggravating to find himself mistaken. So he took a pinch of snuff, and asked, sarcastically:
"Oh I you were thinking of something else, were you? And may I beg to be informed as to what that something was?"
Eben hesitated a moment, and then answered frankly:
"Dr. Porter lent me some books about physiology and anatomy, and I got so much interested in them, that I forgot what I was about. I am very sorry, but—"
"Oh yes, you are very sorry, no doubt," interrupted Mr. Francis. "Really, you are a very aspiring young gentleman. Anatomy and physiology, indeed! Well, sir, since your tastes are so grand, I advise you to go to your anatomy and physiology, and let milling alone. That is my advice to you. What is the meaning of that bell, Mr. Antis?"
"It is twelve o'clock, sir, when we have an hour for dinner. I hope you will go home and take some with me."
"Humph! Well, Mr. Antis, I don't mean to be too hard upon you, but I must say that in this matter you have been too hasty—entirely too hasty, Mr. Antis—and it has turned out as I expected. We have lost more by this young man's carelessness and incapacity than all our profits will make up."
Mr. Antis ventured to suggest that the loss was not certain yet, and that at the worst it would be only a hundred or two dollars.