“Because that’s what I make it.”
“How do you know you are right?” I asked, wondering at my own impudence in thus questioning an old ticker.
“Look here, young fellow,” said the other in an awful voice; “you don’t seem to know you are addressing a gold watch that has neither gained nor lost a minute for five years! There! You may think yourself clever; but you’re too fast.”
“I’m sure I beg your—”
“That’ll do!” said the offended veteran. “I want no more words.”
I was completely shut up at this, and retired back to my pocket very crestfallen.
Presently I began to feel drowsy; my nerves seemed to get unstrung, and my circulation flagged. It was long after the time I had generally been in the habit of being wound up; and I began to be afraid I was really going to be left to go to sleep. That, by this time, I knew would be nothing short of a calamity. I therefore gave a slight tug at my chain.
“What’s the matter?” it said, looking down.
“I’ve not been wound up.”
“I can’t help that,” said the chain.