CHAPTER V.

eitwell.” “Hypocriteandtwaddler!Smooth-faced,snivellinggreasehorn!”(Thislasttermis,Ibelieve,purely——shire,andalludestothehornofblack,rancidwhale-oil,usuallytobeseensuspendedtocart-wheels,andemployedforgreasingthesame.) “Come,EdwardCrimsworth,enoughofthis.ItistimeyouandIwoundupaccounts.Ihavenowgivenyourservicethreemonths’trial,andIfinditthemostnauseousslaveryunderthesun.Seekanotherclerk.Istaynolonger.” “What!doyoudaretogivemenotice?Stopatleastforyourwages.”Hetookdowntheheavygigwhiphangingbesidehismackintosh. IpermittedmyselftolaughwithadegreeofscornItooknopainstotemperorhide.Hisfuryboiledup,andwhenhehadswornhalf-a-dozenvulgar,impiousoaths,without,however,venturingtoliftthewhip,hecontinued: “I’vefoundyououtandknowyouthoroughly,youmean,whininglickspittle!WhathaveyoubeensayingalloverX——aboutme?answermethat!” “You?Ihaveneitherinclinationnortemptationtotalkaboutyou.” “Youlie!Itisyourpracticetotalkaboutmeitisyourconstanthabittomakepubliccomplaintofthetreatmentyoureceiveatmyhands.YouhavegoneandtolditfarandnearthatIgiveyoulowwagesandknockyouaboutlikeadog.Iwishyouwereadog!I’dset-tothisminute,andneverstirfromthespottillI’dcuteverystripoffleshfromyourboneswiththiswhip.” Heflourishedhistool.Theendofthelashjusttouchedmyforehead.Awarmexcitedthrillranthroughmyveins,mybloodseemedtogiveabound,andthenracedfastandhotalongitschannels.Igotupnimbly,cameroundtowherehestood,andfacedhim. “Downwithyourwhip!”saidI,“andexplainthisinstantwhatyoumean.” “Sirrah!towhomareyouspeaking?” “Toyou.Thereisnooneelsepresent,Ithink.YousayIhavebeencalumniatingyou—complainingofyourlowwagesandbadtreatment.Giveyourgroundsfortheseassertions.” Crimsworthhadnodignity,andwhenIsternlydemandedanexplanation,hegaveoneinaloud,scoldingvoice. “Grounds!youshallhavethemandturntothelightthatImayseeyourbrazenfaceblushblack,whenyouhearyourselfprovedtobealiarandahypocrite.AtapublicmeetingintheTown-hallyesterday,Ihadthepleasureofhearingmyselfinsultedbythespeakeropposedtomeinthequestionunderdiscussion,byallusionstomyprivateaffairsbycantaboutmonsterswithoutnaturalaffe