Mr. Ashley rose and went into the next room, carrying one of the duplicate lists. The men were waiting to pack—James Meeking and the other packer, a young man named Dance. The several papers of boxes were ready on a side counter; and Mr. Ashley stood with the list in his hand, ready to verify them. Had Samuel Lynn not been occupied with serving, he would have done this.
"Three dozen best men's outsizes, coloured," called out James Meeking, reading the marks on the first parcel he took up.
"Right," responded Mr. Ashley.
James Meeking laid it upon the packing-table—clear, except for an enormous sheet of brown paper as thick as card-board—turned to the side counter and took up another of the parcels.
"Three dozen best men's outsizes, coloured," repeated he.
"Right," replied Mr. Ashley.
And so on, till all the parcels were told through and were found to tally with the invoice. Then began the packing. It made a large parcel, about four feet square. Mr. Ashley remained, looking on.
"You will not have enough string there," he observed, as the men were placing the string round it in squares.
"I told you we shouldn't, Meeking," said George Dance.
"There's no more downstairs," was Meeking's answer, "I thought it might be enough."