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with an underling。 It was well I had taken a resolution to endure
for a time； or his manner would have gone far to render
insupportable the disgust I had just been endeavouring to subdue。
I looked at him： I measured his robust frame and powerful
proportions； I saw my own reflection in the mirror over the
mantel…piece； I amused myself with comparing the two pictures。
In face I resembled him； though I was not so handsome； my
features were less regular； I had a darker eye； and a broader
brow—in form I was greatly inferior—thinner； slighter； not so tall。
As an animal； Edward excelled me far； should he prove as
paramount in mind as in person I must be a slave—for I must
expect from him no lion…like generosity to one weaker than
himself； his cold； avaricious eye； his stern； forbidding manner told
me he would not spare。 Had I then force of mind to cope with
him？ I did not know； I had never been tried。
Mrs。 Crimsworth’s entrance diverted my thoughts for a
moment。 She looked well； dressed in white； her face and her attire
shining in morning and bridal freshness。 I addressed her with the
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The Professor 21
degree of ease her last night’s careless gaiety seemed to warrant；
but she replied with coolness and restraint： her husband had
tutored her； she was not to be too familiar with his clerk。
As soon as breakfast was over Mr。 Crimsworth intimated to me
that they were bringing the gig round to the door； and that in five
minutes he should expect me to be ready to go down with him to
X—。 I did not keep him waiting； we were soon dashing at a rapid
rate along the road。 The horse he drove was the same vicious
animal about which Mrs。 Crimsworth had expressed her fears the
night before。 Once or twice Jack seemed disposed to turn restive；
but a vigorous and determined application of the whip from the
ruthless hand of his master soon compelled him to submission；
and Edward’s dilated nostril expressed his triumph in the result of
the contest； he scarcely spoke to me during the whole of the brief
drive； only opening his lips at intervals to damn his horse。
X— was all stir and bustle when we entered it； we left the clean
streets where there were dwelling…houses and shops； churches；
and public buildings； we left all these； and turned down to a region
of mills and warehouses； thence we passed through two massive
gates into a great paved yard； and we were in Bigben Close； and
the mill was before us； vomiting soot from its long chimney； and
quivering through its thick brick walls with the commotion of its
iron bowels。 Workpeople were passing to and fro； a waggon was
being laden with pieces。 Mr。 Crimsworth looked from side to side；
and seemed at one glance to comprehend all that was going on； he
alighted； and leaving his horse and gig to the care of a man who
hastened to take the reins from his hand； he bid me follow him to
the counting…house。 We entered it； a very different place from the
parlours of Crimsworth Hall—a place for business； with a bare；
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The Professor 22
planked floor； a safe； two high desks and stools； and some chairs。 A
person was seated at one of the desks； who took off his square cap
when Mr。 Crimsworth entered； and in an instant was again
absorbed in his occupation of writing or calculating—I know not
which。
Mr； Crimsworth； having removed his mackintosh； sat down by
the fire。 I remained standing near the hearth； he said presently—
“Steighton； you may leave the room； I have some business to
transact with this gentleman。 Come back when you hear the bell。”
The individual at the desk rose and departed； closing the door
as he went out。 Mr。 Crimsworth stirred the fire； then folded his
arms； and sat a moment thinking； his lips compressed； his brow
knit。 I had nothing to do but to watch him—how well his features
were cut！ what a handsome man he was！ Whence； then； came that
air of contraction—that narrow and hard aspect on his forehead；
in all his lineaments？
Turning to me he began abruptly：—
“You are come down to —shire to learn to be a tradesman？”
“Yes； I am。”
“Have you made up your mind on the point？ Let me know that
at once。”
“Yes。”
“Well； I am not bound to help you； but I have a place here
vacant； if you are qualified for it。 I will take you on trial。 What can
you do？ Do you know anything besides that useless trash of
college learning—Greek； Latin； and so forth？”
“I have studied mathematics。”
“Stuff！ I dare say you have。”
“I can read and write French and German。”
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The Professor 23
“Hum！” He reflected a moment； then opening a drawer in a
desk near him took out a letter； and gave it to me。
“Can you read that？” he asked。
It was a German commercial letter； I translated it； I could not
tell whether he was gratified or not—his countenance remained
fixed。
“It is well；” he said； after a pause； “that you are acquainted
with something useful； something that may enable you to earn
your board and lodging： since you know French and German； I
will take you as second clerk to manage the foreign
correspondence of the house。 I shall give you a good salary—￡90 a
year—and now；” he continued； raising his voice； “hear once for all
what I have to say about our relationship； and all that sort of
humbug！ I must have no nonsense on that point； it would never
suit me。 I shall excuse you nothing on the plea of being my
brother； if I find you stupid； negligent； dissipated； idle； or
possessed of any faults detrimental to the interests of the house； I
shall dismiss you as I would any other clerk。 Ninety pounds a year
are good wages； and I expect to have the full value of my money
out of you； remember； too； that things are on a practical footing in
my establishment—business…like habits； feelings； and ideas； suit
me best。 Do you understand？”
“Partly；” I replied。 “I suppose you mean that I am to do my
work for my wages； not to expect favour from you； and not to
depend on you for any help but what I earn； that suits me exactly；
and on these terms I will consent to be your clerk。”
I turned on my heel； and walked to the window； this time I did
not consult his face to learn his opinion： what it was I do not know；
nor did I then care。 After a silence of some minutes he
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The Professor 24
recommenced：—
“You perhaps expect to be accommodated with apartments at
Crimsworth Hall； and to go and come with me in the gig。 I wish
you； however； to be aware that such an arrangement would be
quite inconvenient to me。 I like to have the seat in my gig at liberty
for any gentleman whom for business reasons I may wish to take
down to the hall for a night or so。 You will seek out lodgings in X—
。”
Quitting the window； I walked back to the hearth。
“Of course I shall seek out lodgings in X—；” I answered。 “It
would not suit me either to lodge at Crimsworth Hall。”
My tone was quiet。 I always speak quietly。 Yet Mr。
Crimsworth’s blue eye became incensed； he took his revenge
rather oddly。 Turning to me he said b