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credit to me； to be worthy of the name of Grindleyor the name； my boy；
is all you'll have。〃
Old Grindley meant it； and his son knew that he meant it。 The old
Puritan principles and instincts were strong in the old gentleman formed；
perhaps； the better part of him。 Idleness was an abomination to him；
devotion to pleasure； other than the pleasure of money…making； a
grievous sin in his eyes。 Grindley junior fully intended to do well at
Oxford； and might have succeeded。 In accusing himself of lack of
cleverness； he did himself an injustice。 He had brains； he had energy；
he had character。 Our virtues can be our stumbling…blocks as well as
our vices。 Young Grindley had one admirable virtue that needs； above
all others； careful controlling： he was amiability itself。 Before the
charm and sweetness of it； Oxford snobbishness went down。 The
Sauce； against the earnest counsel of its own advertisement； was
forgotten； the pickles passed by。 To escape the natural result of his
popularity would have needed a stronger will than young Grindley
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possessed。 For a time the true state of affairs was hidden from the eye
of Grindley senior。 To 〃slack〃 it this term； with the full determination
of 〃swotting〃 it the next； is always easy； the difficulty beginning only
with the new term。 Possibly with luck young Grindley might have
retrieved his position and covered up the traces of his folly； but for an
unfortunate accident。 Returning to college with some other choice
spirits at two o'clock in the morning； it occurred to young Grindley that
trouble might be saved all round by cutting out a pane of glass with a
diamond ring and entering his rooms； which were on the ground…floor；
by the window。 That； in mistake for his own； he should have selected
the bedroom of the College Rector was a misfortune that might have
occurred to anyone who had commenced the evening on champagne and
finished it on whisky。 Young Grindley； having been warned already
twice before； was 〃sent down。〃 And then； of course； the whole history
of the three wasted years came out。 Old Grindley in his study chair
having talked for half an hour at the top of his voice； chose； partly by
reason of physical necessity； partly by reason of dormant dramatic
instinct； to speak quietly and slowly。
〃I'll give you one chance more； my boy； and one only。 I've tried
you as a gentlemanperhaps that was my mistake。 Now I'll try you as
a grocer。〃
〃As a what？〃
〃As a grocer； sirg…r…o…c…e…rgrocer； a man who stands behind a
counter in a white apron and his shirt…sleeves； who sells tea and sugar
and candied peel and such…like things to customersold ladies； little girls；
who rises at six in the morning； takes down the shutters； sweeps out the
shop； cleans the windows； who has half an hour for his dinner of corned
beef and bread； who puts up the shutters at ten o'clock at night； tidies up
the shop； has his supper； and goes to bed； feeling his day has not been
wasted。 I meant to spare you。 I was wrong。 You shall go through
the mill as I went through it。 If at the end of two years you've done
well with your time； learned somethinglearned to be a man； at all
eventsyou can come to me and thank me。〃
〃I'm afraid； sir；〃 suggested Grindley junior； whose handsome face
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during the last few minutes had grown very white； 〃I might not make a
very satisfactory grocer。 You see； sir； I've had no experience。〃
〃I am glad you have some sense；〃 returned his father drily。 〃You
are quite right。 Even a grocer's business requires learning。 It will cost
me a little money； but it will be the last I shall ever spend upon you。
For the first year you will have to be apprenticed； and I shall allow you
something to live on。 It shall be more than I had at your agewe'll say
a pound a week。 After that I shall expect you to keep yourself。〃
Grindley senior rose。 〃You need not give me your answer till the
evening。 You are of age。 I have no control over you unless you are
willing to agree。 You can go my way； or you can go your own。〃
Young Grindley； who had inherited a good deal of his father's grit；
felt very much inclined to go his own； but； hampered on the other hand
by the sweetness of disposition he had inherited from his mother； was
unable to withstand the argument of that lady's tears； so that evening
accepted old Grindley's terms； asking only as a favour that the scene of
his probation might be in some out…of…the… way neighbourhood where
there would be little chance of his being met by old friends。
〃I have thought of all that；〃 answered his father。 〃My object isn't to
humiliate you more than is necessary for your good。 The shop I have
already selected； on the assumption that you would submit； is as quiet
and out…of…the…way as you could wish。 It is in a turning off Fetter Lane；
where you'll see few other people than printers and caretakers。 You'll
lodge with a woman； a Mrs。 Postwhistle； who seems a very sensible
person。 She'll board you and lodge you； and every Saturday you'll
receive a post…office order for six shillings； out of which you'll find
yourself in clothes。 You can take with you sufficient to last you for the
first six months； but no more。 At the end of the year you can change if
you like and go to another shop； or make your own arrangements with
Mrs。 Postwhistle。 If all is settled； you go there to…morrow。 You go out
of this house to…morrow in any event。〃
Mrs。 Postwhistle was a large； placid lady of philosophic
temperament。 Hitherto the little grocer's shop in Rolls Court； Fetter
Lane； had been easy of management by her own unaided efforts； but the
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neighbourhood was rapidly changing。 Other grocers' shops were
disappearing one by one； making way for huge blocks of buildings；
where hundreds of iron presses； singing day and night； spread to the
earth the song of the Mighty Pen。 There were hours when the little
shop could hardly accommodate its crowd of customers。 Mrs。
Postwhistle； of a bulk not to be moved quickly； had； after mature
consideration； conquering a natural disinclination to change； decided to
seek assistance。
Young Grindley； alighting from a four…wheeled cab in Fetter Lane；
marched up the court； followed by a weak…kneed wastrel staggering
under the weight of a small box。 In the doorway of the little shop；
young Grindley paused and raised his hat。
〃Mrs。 Postwhistle？〃
The lady； from her chair behind the counter； rose slowly。
〃I am Mr。 Nathaniel Grindley； the new assistant。〃
The weak…kneed wastrel let fall the box with a thud upon the floor。
Mrs。 Postwhistle looked her new assistant up and down。
〃Oh！〃 said Mrs。 Postwhistle。 〃