So Mr. King resolutely kept away from all business conferences to which he was always asked; and he pinched his lips under his white mustache very tightly together whenever the fit seized him to give advice. Whenever this was particularly strong upon him, he invariably kept away from town, working it off by scolding at the editorials in the morning paper. At other times he would sometimes take an early morning train with Jasper, and spend hours in wandering over the big establishment, in which he was a great favorite, and in reading and examining the books and periodicals turned out; swelling with pride more and more at the splendid character of the work he saw before him.
Sometimes Phronsie was with him, and often Polly came; and now and then Elyot or King hung to his hand, and listened to his delighted praise of the whole thing.
But this day he announced that he was going alone with Jasper. And when they arrived at the publishing house, he said, in a very different tone from that he had used on his first visit,—“And what a first-class fool I was then, to be sure,” he reflected,—“Jasper, my boy, see if Mr. Marlowe would like to talk with me now. If not, I’ll go up into the bindery and see that new machine.”
Mr. Marlowe wasn’t ready to see him, being, as on the former occasion, occupied with a gentleman who had made the appointment for that hour; so Mr. King did go up into the bindery, whereat all the working-people looked up with a smile, as the old gentleman made them his courtliest bow.
“Father,” cried Jasper, springing up the stairs two at a time, “Mr. Marlowe is ready now. He is dreadfully sorry to keep you waiting so long, but it couldn’t be helped. Mr. Strong did not get through, but lapped over on the agent of the new paper company, who had an appointment.”
“Say no more, my boy,” cried his father. “I don’t mind waiting a half-hour. I’ve nothing special to do, and it’s pleasant up here.”
“A half-hour?” repeated Jasper, taking out his watch. “You’ve been up here just three hours, father!”
“To be sure,” cried the old gentleman, glancing at it, and then whipping out his own, when he burst out laughing, and took Jasper’s arm, and went down-stairs.
“I move that we all three go out to luncheon,” said Mr. Marlowe, as they came into his small private office. “What do you say, Mr. King?”
“Yes, yes, to be sure; a good plan,” assented the old gentleman, who always said “yes” nowadays to everything Mr. Marlowe proposed.