"'Oh, no, sir!'
"'Doesn't you go t' church? Is that what they learns you there? I'm thinkin' the parson doesn't earn what I pays un. Isn't you got no conscience?'
"'Twas just a little too much for young Tom. You see, Tom West had a conscience—a conscience as fresh and as young as his years. And Tom had loved his father well. And Tom honoured his father's name. And so when he had brooded over Skinflint Sam's words for a time—and when he had lain awake in the night thinking of his father's goodness—he went over to Skinflint's office and said that he would pay his father's debt.
"Skinflint gave him a clap on the back.
"'You are an honest lad, Tom West!' said he. 'I knowed you was. I'm proud t' have your name on my books!'
"And after that Tom kept hacking away on his father's debt.
"In good years Skinflint would say:
"'She's comin' down, Tom. I'll just apply the surplus.'
"And in bad he'd say:
"'You isn't quite cotched up with your own self this season, b'y. A little less pork this season, Tom, an' you'll square this here little balance afore next. I wisht this whole harbour was as honest as you. No trouble, then,' said he, 't' do business in a businesslike way.'