CHAPTER III.

ISERVEDEdwardashissecondclerkfaithfully,punctually,diligently.WhatwasgivenmetodoIhadthepowerandthedeterminationtodowell.Mr.Crimsworthwatchedsharplyfordefects,butfoundnonehesetTimothySteighton,hisfavouriteandheadman,towatchalso.TimwasbaffledIwasasexactashimself,andquicker.Mr.CrimsworthmadeinquiriesastohowIlived,whetherIgotintodebt—no,myaccountswithmylandladywerealwaysstraight.Ihadhiredsmalllodgings,whichIcontrivedtopayforoutofaslenderfund—theaccumulatedsavingsofmyEtonpocket-moneyforasithadeverbeenabhorrenttomynaturetoaskpecuniaryassistance,Ihadearlyacquiredhabitsofself-denyingeconomyhusbandingmymonthlyallowancewithanxiouscare,inordertoobviatethedangerofbeingforced,insomemomentoffutureexigency,tobegadditionalaid.Iremembermanycalledmemiseratthetime,andIusedtocouplethereproachwiththisconsolation—bettertobemisunderstoodnowthanrepulsedhereafter.AtthisdayIhadmyrewardIhadhaditbefore,whenonpartingwithmyirritatedunclesoneofthemthrewdownonthetablebeforemea5l.note,whichIwasabletoleavethere,sayingthatmytravellingexpenseswerealreadyprovidedfor.Mr.CrimsworthemployedTimtofindoutwhethermylandladyhadanycomplainttomakeonthescoreofmymoralssheansweredthatshebelievedIwasaveryreligiousman,andaskedTim,inherturn,ifhethoughtIhadanyintentionofgoingintotheChurchsomedayfor,shesaid,shehadhadyoungcuratestolodgeinherhousewhowerenothingequaltomeforsteadinessandquietness.Timwas“areligiousman”himselfindeed,hewas“ajoinedMethodist,”whichdidnot(beitunderstood)preventhimfrombeingatthesametimeanengrainedrascal,andhecameawaymuchposedathearingthisaccountofmypiety.HavingimpartedittoMr.Crimsworth,thatgentleman,whohimselffrequentednoplaceofworship,andownednoGodbutMammon,turnedtheinformationintoaweaponofattackagainsttheequabilityofmytemper.Hecommencedaseriesofcovertsneers,ofwhichIdidnotatfirstperceivethedrift,tillmylandladyhappenedtorelatetheconversationshehadhadwithMr.SteightonthisenlightenedmeafterwardsIcametothecounting-houseprepared,andmanagedtoreceivethemillowner’sblasphemoussarcasms,whennextlevelledatme,onabucklerofimpenetrableindifference.Erelonghetiredofwastinghisammunitiononastatue,buthedidnotthrowawaytheshafts—heonlykeptthemquietinhisquiver. OnceduringmyclerkshipIhadaninvitationtoCrimsworthHallitwasontheoccasionofalargepartygiveninhonourofthemaster’sbirthdayhehadalwaysbeenaccustomedtoinvitehisclerksonsimilaran