A certain haze had vanished, leaving all too apparent the circumstance that others were working beyond the gate while Merton Gill loitered outside, his talent, his training, ignored.
His early air of careless confidence had changed to one not at all careless or confident.

He was looking rather desperate and rather unbelieving.

And it daily grew easier to count his savings.

He made no mistakes now.

His hoard no longer enjoyed the addition of fifteen dollars a week.