rk pass without notice it would seem that I had
assented."

"Ah; very well. I can only say that I hope you'll find yourself
mistaken. I've been over thirty years in the concern, and it would be
odd if I with my large family were to find myself only equal to you,
who have never been in the business at all, and ain't even married
yet."

"I don't see what being married has to do with it."

"Don't you? You'll find that's the way we look at these things down
in these parts. You're not in London here, Mr. Rowan."

"Certainly not; but I suppose the laws are the same. This is an
affair of capital."

"Capital!" said Mr. Tappitt. "I don't know that you've brought in any
capital."

"Bungall did, and I'm here as his representative. But you'd better
let that pass by just at present. If we can agree as to the
management of the business, you won't find me a hard man to deal
with as to our relative shares." Hereupon Tappitt scratched his head,
and tried to think. "But I don't see how we are to agree about the
management," he continued. "You won't be led by anybody."

"I don't know about that. I certainly want to improve the concern."

"Ah, yes; and so ruin it. Whereas I've been making money out of it
these thirty years. You and I won't do together; that's the long of
it and the short of it."

"It would be a putting of new wine into old bottles, you think?"
suggested Rowan.

"I'm not saying anything about wine; but I do think that I ought to
know something about beer."

"And I'm to understand," said Rowan, "that you have definitively
determined not to carry on the old concern in conjunction with me as
your partner."

"Yes; I think I have."

"But it will be as well to be sure. One can't allow one's self to
depend upon thinking."

"Well, I am sure; I've made up my mind. I've no doubt you're a very
clever young man, but I am quite sure we should not do together; and
to tell you the truth, Rowan, I don't think you'll ever make your
fortune by brewing."

"You think not?"

"No; never."

"I'm sorry for that."

"I don't know that you need be sorry. You'll have a nice income for
a single man to begin the world with, and there's other businesses
besides brewing,--and a deal better."

"Ah! But I've made up my mind to be a brewer. I like it. There's
opportunity for chemical experiments, and room for philosophical
inquiry, which gives the trade a charm in my eyes. I dare say it
seems odd to you, but I like being a brewer