As small as Guly's salary was, he looked upon the loss which he had
suffered as a mere trifle, when compared with the pleasure he received
from an approving conscience. Ho felt that he had acted right, not only
in exposing the defects in the desired article, but in remaining firm to
his sense of duty under the anger of his employer.

The incident awakened in his breast a wish to know the name of the lady
who had looked at the goods, and he turned to Mr. Hull, the clerk who
stood next to him, to make inquiry. Hull informed him that he knew
little of her except as a customer; that he had never learned her name,
as he did those of most of his customers, by sending goods to their
houses, for she always came in her carriage, and brought her own
servant. He added, that her affability had won the esteem of all the
clerks; more than this he could not tell.

When the dinner hour arrived, Quirk sauntered down past Guly, looking at
him with an impudent stare. He turned back, as he reached the door, and
stopped at the counter.

"Anything you will have, Mr. Quirk?"

"No, I reckon not; when I do, though, I'll know where to come to find an
honest chap to deal with," and he curled his disagreeable mouth into a
sneer.

Guly was silent; not wishing to prolong the conversation with one for
whom he felt such an aversion. Quirk, however, was not to be put off in
this manner; and drawing out his tooth-pick, he began using it among his
huge masticators, and continued:--

"I s'pose you thought the boss was of the Puritan stamp, and would
perhaps promote you for that nice little affair of this morning, eh? You
found yourself mistaken, I reckon, when you had the _thirty-five_
charged over, ha, ha!"

"I thought, sir, of acting honestly, only; and since you happened to
overhear the conversation, let me tell you that I should have done the
same thing the next moment, under like circumstances."

"Well, you're a precious ninny, that's all I've got to say about it."

"If so, perhaps you'll be willing to lounge on your own counter instead
of mine, Mr. Quirk."

"No," he replied, at the same time changing his position, "I'm
comfortable enough here; so long as the boss don't see me, I believe I
will stay where I am."

Guly made no reply.

"Well, say," said Quirk, again wheeling round so as to face Guly,
"what's the reason you can't be a little sociable with a feller, when he
comes and tries to talk with you. Pshaw, your brother is worth t