reflected, of a man's marrying indiscreetly and having a houseful of
children on his back.

Clark would be pleased at the showing on the books. He was always
delighted when the balances showed a marked increase.

Livingstone was glad now that he had not only paid the old clerk extra
for his night-work last year, but had given him fifty dollars
additional, partly because of the trouble in his family, and partly
because Livingstone had been unusually irritated when Clark got the two
accounts confused.

Livingstone prided himself on his manner to his employees. He prided
himself on being a gentleman, and it was a mark of a gentleman always
to treat subordinates with civility. He knew men in the city who were
absolute bears to their employees; but they were blackguards.

He, perhaps, ought to have discharged Clark without a word; that would
have been "business;" but really he ought not to have spoken to him as
he did. Clark undoubtedly acted with dignity. Livingstone had had to
apologize to him and ask him to remain, and had made the amend (to
himself) by giving him fifty dollars extra for the ten nights' work. He
could only justify the act now by reflecting that Clark had more than
once suggested investments which had turned out most fortunately.

Livingstone determined to give Clark this year a hundred dollars--no,
fifty--he must not spoil him, and it really was not "business."

The thought of his liberality brought to Livingstone's mind the
donations that he always made at the close of the year. He might as well