'Do you wish to see me?' he said, as he proceeded to untie the horse and get into the wagon.
'Mr. Joel Burns, I presume?'
'Yes.'
'I did wish to see you, sir, on matters of no consequence to you, but personal to myself. I can call again.'
'I am going down to the paper-mill to be absent for an hour. If you will come to my office in that time, I shall be at liberty.'
Hiram had a faint hope he would be invited to step into the house and wait. Disappointed in this, he replied very modestly: 'Perhaps you will permit me to ride with you—that is, unless some one else is going. I would like much to look about the factories.'
'Certainly. Jump in.' And away they drove to Slab City.
Hiram was careful to make no allusion to the subject of his mission to Burnsville. He remained modestly silent while Mr. Burns occasionally pointed out an important building and explained its use or object. Arriving at the paper-mill, he gave Hiram a brief direction where he might spend his time most agreeably.
'I shall be ready to return in three quarters of an hour,' he said, and disappeared inside.
'I must be careful, and make no mistakes with such a man,' soliloquized Hiram, as he turned to pursue his walk. 'He is quick and rapid—a word and a blow—too rapid to achieve a GREAT success. It takes a man, though, to originate and carry through all this. Every thing flourishes here, that is evident. Joel Burns ought to be a richer man than they say he is. He has sold too freely, and on too easy terms, I dare say. No doubt, come to get into his affairs, there will be ever so much to look after. Too much a man of action. Does not think enough. Just the place for me for two or three years.'