n.

"I am an old man, George," he said once, "and all this seems to be
new."

"If it be not new, it is nothing," answered Robinson.

"I don't understand it," continued the old man; "I don't pretend to
understand it; I only hope that it's right."

The conduct which Jones was disposed to pursue gave much more
trouble. He was willing enough to allow Robinson to have his own
way, and to advertise in any shape or manner, but he was desirous of
himself doing the same thing. It need hardly be pointed out here that
this was a branch of trade for which he was peculiarly unsuited, and
that his productions would be stale, inadequate, and unattractive.
Nevertheless, he persevered, and it was only by direct interference
at the printer's, that the publication of documents was prevented
which would have been fatal to the interests of the firm.

"Do I meddle with you in the shop?" Robinson would say to him.

"You haven't the personal advantages which are required for meeting
the public," Jones would answer.

"Nor have you the mental advantages without which original
composition is impossible."

In spite of all these difficulties a considerable trade was
established within six months, and the shop was usually crowded. As a
drawback to this, the bills at the printer's and at the stationer's
had become very heavy, and Robinson was afraid to disclose their
amount to his senior partner. But nevertheless he persevered. "Faint
heart never won fair lady," he repeated to himself, over and over
again,--the fair lady for whom his heart sighed being at this time
Commercial Success.

_Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum._ That should be the motto of the house. He
failed, however, altogether in making it intelligible to Mr. Brown.

CHAPTER XI.

JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER.

It was about eight months after the business had been opened that a
circumstance took place which gave to the firm a reputation which
for some few days was absolutely metropolitan. The affair was at
first fortuitous, but advantage was very promptly taken of all that
occurred; no chance was allowed to pass by unimproved; and there was,
perhaps, as much genuine talent displayed in the matter as though the
whole had been designed from the beginning. The transaction was the
more important as it once more brought Mr. Robinson and Maryanne
Brown together, and very nearly effected a union between them. It was
not, however, written in the book that such a marriage should ever
be