my boy, there 's £100 for you in March if you keep hours, but if you 're late once not a farthing,' by God, John, I 'd have worked like a nigger!"
Mr. Brassington looked at the fire and thought, without much result.
"I can't pay it, Charles, and I won't," he said at last. "I 've said I wouldn't, and that 's enough. I have written and said I wouldn't, and that 's more. But even if I had said nothing and had written nothing, I wouldn't pay. He must learn his lesson."
"Oh, he 'll learn that all right!" said Mr. Kirby carelessly. "He 's learning it now like the devil. It 's an abominable shame, mind you, and I don't mind telling you so. I 've a good mind to send him the money myself."
"If you do, Charles," said John Brassington, with one of his fierce looks, "I 'll, I 'll"
"Yes, that's what I was afraid of," said Mr. Kirby thoughtfully. "You 're an exceedingly difficult man to deal with. … I shouldn't have charged him more than five per cent. You 'll lose your train, John."
John Brassington looked at his watch again.
"You haven't been much use to me, Charles," he said, sighing as he rose.
