"

"Do as I order," was the answer, "and no questions! You are my servant,
obey me! What have you been about--?" He was going on in the same
breath, when an abrupt pause announced that rage had for the moment got
the better of articulation.

"You may look, if you wish to know," I replied. "There is the open desk,
there are the papers."

"Confound your insolence! What have you been about?"

"Your work, and have done it well."

"Hypocrite and twaddler! Smooth-faced, snivelling greasehorn!" (this
last term is, I believe, purely ----shire, and alludes to the horn of
black, rancid whale-oil, usually to be seen suspended to cart-wheels,
and employed for greasing the same.)

"Come, Edward Crimsworth, enough of this. It is time you and I wound up
accounts. I have now given your service three months' trial, and I find
it the most nauseous slavery under the sun. Seek another clerk. I stay
no longer."

"What I do you dare to give me notice? Stop at least for your wages." He
took down the heavy gig whip hanging beside his mackintosh.

I permitted myself to laugh with a degree of scorn I took no pains to
temper or hide. His fury boiled up, and when he had sworn half-a-dozen
vulgar, impious oaths, without, however, venturing to lift the whip, he
continued:

"I've found you out and know you thoroughly, you mean, whining
lickspittle! What have you been saying all over X---- about me? answer
me that!"

"You? I have neither inclination nor temptation to talk about you."

"You lie! It is your practice to talk about me; it is your constant
habit to make public complaint of the treatment you receive at my hands.
You have gone and told it far and near that I give you low wages and
knock you about like a dog. I wish you were a dog! I'd set-to this
minute, and never stir from the spot till I'd cut every strip of flesh
from your bones with this whip."

He flourished his tool. The end of the lash just touched my forehead.
A warm excited thrill ran through my veins, my blood seemed to give
abound, and then raced fast and hot along its channels. I got up nimbly,
came round to where he stood, and faced him.

"Down with your whip!" said I, "and explain this instant what you mean."

"Sirrah! to whom are you speaking?"

"To you. There is no one else present, I think. You say I have been
calumniating you--complaining of your low wages and bad treatment. Give
your grounds for these assertions."

Crimsworth had no dignity, and when I