“ I’m very grateful to Mr Guest and you, sir; of course I feel the most indebted to you , who first took me into the business, and have taken a good deal of pains with me since.”
Tom spoke with a slight tremor, and paused after he had said this.
“ Yes, yes,” said Mr Deane. “I don’t spare pains when I see they’ll be of any use. I gave myself some trouble with Gell, else he wouldn’t have been what he is.”
“ But there’s one thing I should like to mention to you uncle. I’ve never spoken to you of it before. If you remember, at the time my father’s property was sold, there was some thought of your firm buying the Mill; I know you thought it would be a very good investment, especially if steam were applied.”
“ To be sure, to be sure. But Wakem outbid us; he’d made up his mind to t
