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Crimsworth’s blue eye became incensed； he took his revenge
rather oddly。 Turning to me he said bluntly—
“You are poor enough； I suppose； how do you expect to live till
your quarter’s salary becomes due？”
“I shall get on；” said I。
“How do you expect to live？” he repeated in a louder voice。
“As I can； Mr。 Crimsworth。”
“Get into debt at your peril！ that’s all；” he answered。 “For aught
I know you may have extravagant aristocratic habits： if you have；
drop them； I tolerate nothing of the sort here； and I will never give
you a shilling extra； whatever liabilities you may incur—mind
that。”
“Yes； Mr。 Crimsworth； you will find I have a good memory。”
I said no more。 I did not think the time was come for much
parley。 I had an instinctive feeling that it would be folly to let one’s
temper effervesce often with such a man as Edward。 I said to
myself； “I will place my cup under this continual dropping； it shall
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The Professor 25
stand there still and steady； when full； it will run over of itself—
meantime patience。 Two things are certain。 I am capable of
performing the work Mr。 Crimsworth has set me； I can earn my
wages conscientiously； and those wages are sufficient to enable me
to live。 As to the fact of my brother assuming towards me the
bearing of a proud； harsh master； the fault is his； not mine； and
shall his injustice； his bad feeling； turn me at once aside from the
path I have chosen？ No； at least； ere I deviate； I will advance far
enough to see whither my career tends。 As yet I am only pressing
in at the entrance—a strait gate enough； it ought to have a good
terminus。” While I thus reasoned； Mr。 Crimsworth rang a bell； his
first clerk； the individual dismissed previously to our conference；
re…entered。
“Mr。 Steighton；” said he； “show Mr。 William the letters from
Voss Brothers； and give him English copies of the answers； he will
translate them。”
Mr。 Steighton； a man of about thirty…five； with a face at once sly
and heavy； hastened to execute this order； he laid the letters on
the desk； and I was soon seated at it； and engaged in rendering the
English answers into German。 A sentiment of keen pleasure
accompanied this first effort to earn my own living—a sentiment
neither poisoned nor weakened by the presence of the taskmaster；
who stood and watched me for some time as I wrote。 I thought he
was trying to read my character； but I felt as secure against his
scrutiny as if I had had on a casque with the visor down…or rather I
showed him my countenance with the confidence that one would
show an unlearned man a letter written in Greek； he might see
lines； and trace characters； but he could make nothing of them； my
nature was not his nature； and its signs were to him like the words
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The Professor 26
of an unknown tongue。 Ere long he turned away abruptly； as if
baffled； and left the counting…house； he returned to it but twice in
the course of that day； each time he mixed and swallowed a glass
of brandy…and…water； the materials for making which he extracted
from a cupboard on one side of the fireplace； having glanced at my
translations—he could read both French and German—he went
out again in silence。
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The Professor 27
Chapter III
served Edward as his second clerk faithfully； punctually；
Idiligently。 What was given me to do I had the power and the
determination to do well。 Mr。 Crimsworth watched sharply for
defects； but found none； he set Timothy Steighton； his favourite
and head man； to watch also。 Tim was baffled； I was as exact as
himself； and quicker。 Mr。 Crimsworth made inquiries as to how I
lived； whether I got into debt—no； my accounts with my landlady
were always straight。 I had hired small lodgings； which I contrived
to pay for out of a slender fund—the accumulated savings of my
Eton pocket…money； for as it had ever been abhorrent to my
nature to ask pecuniary assistance； I had early acquired habits of
self…denying economy； husbanding my monthly allowance with
anxious care； in order to obviate the danger of being forced； in
some moment of future exigency； to beg additional aid。 I
remember many called me miser at the time； and I used to couple
the reproach with this consolation—better to be misunderstood
now than repulsed hereafter。 At this day I had my reward； I had
had it before； when on parting with my irritated uncles one of
them threw down on the table before me a ￡5 note； which I was
able to leave there； saying that my travelling expenses were
already provided for。 Mr。 Crimsworth employed Tim to find out
whether my landlady had any complaint to make on the score of
my morals； she answered that she believed I was a very religious
man； and asked Tim； in her turn； if he thought I had any intention
of going into the Church some day； for； she said； she had had
young curates to lodge in her house who were nothing equal to me
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The Professor 28
for steadiness and quietness。 Tim was “a religious man” himself；
indeed； he was “a joined Methodist；” which did not （be it
understood） prevent him from being at the same time an
engrained rascal； and he came away much posed at hearing this
account of my piety。 Having imparted it to Mr。 Crimsworth； that
gentleman； who himself frequented no place of worship； and
owned no God but Mammon； turned the information into a
weapon of attack against the equability of my temper。 He
commenced a series of covert sneers； of which I did not at first
perceive the drift； till my landlady happened to relate the
conversation she had had with Mr。 Steighton； this enlightened me；
afterwards I came to the counting…house prepared； and managed
to receive the mill…owner’s blasphemous sarcasms； when next
levelled at me； on a buckler of impenetrable indifference。 Ere long
he tired of wasting his ammunition on a statue； but he did not
throw away the shafts—he only kept them quiet in his quiver。
Once during my clerkship I had an invitation to Crimsworth
Hall； it was on the occasion of a large party given in honour of the
master’s birthday； he had always been accustomed to invite his
clerks on similar anniversaries； and could not well pass me over； I
was； however； kept strictly in the background。 Mrs。 Crimsworth；
elegantly dressed in satin and lace； blooming in youth and health；
vouchsafed me no more notice than was expressed by a distant
move； Crimsworth； of course； never spoke to me； I was introduced
to none of the band of young ladies； who； enveloped in silvery
clouds of white gauze and muslin； sat in array against me on the
opposite side of a long and large room； in fact； I was fairly isolated；
and could but contemplate the shining ones from afar； and when
weary of such a dazzling scene； turn for a change to the
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The Professor 29
consideration of the carpet pattern。 Mr。 Cr