uarter of
"British Mechanic" nearly two hundred ticks and nearly two hundred
crossing ticks had to be made in the book, if the work was properly
done. However, it was never properly done--Miss Ingamells being short
of leisure and the errand boy utterly unreliable--and Darius wanted it
properly done. The total gross profit on a quarter of "British
Mechanics" was less than five shillings, and no customers were more
exigent and cantankerous than those who bought one pennyworth of goods
per week, and had them delivered free, and received three months'
credit. Still, that could not be helped. A printer and stationer was
compelled by usage to supply papers; and besides, paper subscribers
served a purpose as a nucleus of general business.

As with the "British Mechanics," so with seventeen other weeklies. The
daily papers were fewer, but the accountancy they caused was even more
elaborate. For monthly magazines there was a separate book with a
separate system; here the sums involved were vaster, ranging as high as
half a crown.

Darius led Edwin with patient minuteness through the whole labyrinth.

"Now," he said, "you're going to have sole charge of all this."

And he said it benevolently, in the conviction that he was awarding a
deserved recompense, with the mien of one who was giving dominion to a
faithful steward over ten cities.

"Just look into it carefully yerself, lad," he said at last, and left
Edwin with a mixed parcel of journals upon which to practise.

Before Edwin's eyes flickered hundreds of names, thousands of figures,
and tens of thousands of ticks. His heart protested; it protested with
loathing. The prospect stretching far in front of him made him feel
sick. But something weak and good-natured in him forced him to smile,
and to simulate a subdued ecstasy at receiving this overwhelming proof
of his father's confidence in him. As for Darius, Darius was delighted
with himself and with his son, and he felt that he was behaving as a
benignant father should. Edwin had proved his grit, proved that he had
that uncommunicable quality, `character,' and had well deserved
encouragement.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIVE.

The next morning, in the printing office, Edwin came upon Big James
giving a lesson in composing to the younger apprentice, who in theory
had `learned his cases.' Big James held the composing stick in his
great left hand, like a match