Applegarth's concern; but he dismissed the idea as too improbable;
Sherwood was far too good a fellow, far too conscientious a man of
business, to involve his friend in obvious risk--especially since
it had been decided that Mrs. Warburton's and her money should go
into the affair. The inquiries made by Mr. Turnbull had results so
satisfactory that even the resolute pessimist could not but
grudgingly admit his inability to discover storm-signals. Though a
sense of responsibility made a new element in his life, which would
not let him sleep quite so soundly as hitherto, Will persuaded
himself that he had but to get to work, and all would be right.

The impression made upon him by Applegarth himself was very
favourable. The fact that the jam manufacturer was a university man,
an astronomer, and a musician, had touched Warburton's weak point,
and he went down to Bristol the first time with an undeniable
prejudice at the back of his mind; but this did not survive a day or
two's intercourse. Applegarth recommended himself by an easy and
humorous geniality of bearing which Warburton would have been the
last man to resist; he talked of his affairs with the utmost
frankness.

"The astonishing thing to me is," he said, "that I've made this
business pay. I went into it on abstract principle. I knew nothing
of business. At school, I rather think, I learnt something about
'single and double entry,' but I had forgotten it all--just as I
find myself forgetting how to multiply and divide, now that I am
accustomed to the higher mathematics. However, I had to earn a
little money, somehow, and I thought I'd try jam. And it went by
itself, I really don't understand it, mere good luck, I suppose. I
hear of fellows who have tried business, and come shocking croppers.