“I wish you wouldn’t say that, dad––at least, not just in that way,” said Archie, turning away from the window. “It sort of frightens me.”
Sir Archibald laughed and clapped him on the back. “You know what I mean,” said he.
“You mean that the firm has a name,” said Archie. “You mean that the name must never be disgraced. I know what you mean.”
Sir Archibald nodded.
“I hope,” said Archie, the suspicion of a quaver in his voice and a tremble in his lower lip, “that I’ll never disgrace it.”
“Nor the name of the little firm that goes into business this day,” said Sir Archibald.
Archie’s solemn face broke into a smile of amusement and surprise. “Why, dad,” said he, “it hasn’t got a name.”
“Armstrong & Company, Junior?”
“Armstrong, Topsail, Grimm & Company,” said Archie, promptly.