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plans？”
“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。”
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“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
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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 sternly demanded an
explanation； he gave one in a loud； scolding voice。
“Grounds I you shall have them； and turn to the light that I may
see your brazen face blush black； when you hear yourself proved
to be a liar and a hypocrite。 At a public meeting in the Town…hall
yesterday； I had the pleasure of hearing myself insulted by the
speaker opposed to me in the question under discussion； by
allusions to my private affairs； by cant about monsters without
natural affection； family despots； and such trash； and when I rose
to answer； I was met by a shout from the filthy mob； where the
mention of your name enabled me at once to detect the quarter in
which this base attack had originated。 When I looked round； I saw
that treacherous villain； Hunsden acting as fugleman。 I detected
you in close conversation with Hunsden at my house a month ago；
and I know that you were at Hunsden’s rooms last night。 Deny it if
you dare。”
“Oh； I shall not deny it！ And if Hunsden hounded on the people
to hiss you； he did quite right。 You deserve popular execration； for
a worse man； a harder master； a more brutal brother than you are
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has seldom existed。”
“Sirrah！ sirrah！” reiterated Crimsworth； and to complete his
apostrophe； he cracked the whip straight over my head。
A minute sufficed to wrest it from him； break it in two pieces；
and throw it under the grate。 He made a headlong rush at me；
which I evaded； and said—
“Touch me； and I’ll have you up before the nearest magistrate。”
Men like Crimsworth； if firmly and calmly resisted； always
abate something of their exorbitant insolence； he had no mind to
be brought before a magistrate； and I suppose he saw I meant
what I said。 After an odd and long stare at me； at once bull…like
and amazed； he seemed to bethink himself that； after all； his
money gave him sufficient superiority over a beggar like me； and
that he had in his hands a surer and more dignified mode of
revenge than the somewhat hazardous one of personal
chastisement。
“Take your hat；” said he。 “Take what belongs to you； and go out
at that door； get away to your parish； you pauper： beg； steal；
starve； get transported； do what you like； but at your peril venture
again into my sight！ If ever I hear of your setting foot on an inch of
ground belonging to me； I’ll hire a man to cane you。”
“It is not likely you’ll have the chance； once off your premises；
what temptation can I have to return to them？ I leave a prison； I
leave a tyrant； I leave what is worse than the worst that can lie
before me； so no fear of my coming back。”
“Go； or I’ll make you！” exclaimed Crimsworth。
I walked deliberately to my desk； took out such of its contents
as were my own property； put them in my pocket； locked the desk；
and placed the key on the top。
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“What are you abstracting from that desk？” demanded the mill…
owner。 “Leave all behind in its place； or I’ll send for a policeman
to search you。”
“Look sharp about it； then；” said I； and I took down my hat；
drew on my gloves； and walked leisurely out of the counting…house
—walked out of it to enter it no more。
I recollect that when the mill…bell rang the dinner hour； before
Mr。 Crimsworth entered； and the scene above related took place； I
had had rather a sharp appetite； and had been waiting somewhat
impatiently to hear the signal of feeding time。 I forgot it now；
however； the images of potatoes and roast mutton were effaced
from my mind by the stir and tumult which the transaction of the
last half…hour had there excited。 I only thought of walking； that the
action of my muscles might harmonize with the action of my
nerves； and walk I did； fast and far。 How could I do otherwise？ A
load was lifted off my heart； I felt light and liberated。 I had got
away from Bigben Close without a breach of resolution； without
injury to my self…respect。 I had not forced circumstances；
circumstances had freed me。 Life was again open to me； no longer
was its horizon limited by the high black wall surrounding
Crimsworth’s mill。 Two hours had elapsed before my sensations
had so far subsided as to leave me calm enough to remark for what
wider and clearer boundaries I had exchanged that sooty girdle。
When I did look up； lo！ straight before me lay Grovetown； a village
of villas about five miles out of X—。 The short winter day； as I
perceived from the far…declined sun； was already approaching its
close； a chill frost…mist