He was too quiet and reserved for the wilder
spirits, too much of a gentleman for others, and in the eyes of the
managers, and especially of the senior partner, a disgraced,
untrustworthy youth foisted on the office by Mr. Castleford's weak
partiality. That old Mr. Frith had, Clarence used to say, a
perfectly venomous way of accepting his salute, and seemed always
surprised and disappointed if he came in in time, or showed up
correct work. Indeed, the old man was disliked and feared by all
his subordinates as much as his partner was loved; and while Mr.
Castleford, with his good-natured Irish wife and merry family, lived
a life as cheerful as it was beneficent, Mr. Frith dwelt entirely
alone, in rooms over the office, preserving the habits formed when
his income had been narrow, and mistrusting everybody.
At the end of the first month of experiment, Mr. Castleford declared
himself contented with Clarence's industry and steadiness, and
permanent arrangements were made, to which Clarence submitted with
an odd sort of passive gratitude, such as almost angered my father,
who little knew how trying the position really was, nor how a
certain home-sickness for the seafaring life was tugging at the
lad's heart, and making each morning's entrance at the counting-
house an effort--each merchant-captain, redolent of the sea, an
object of envy.
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