She used to fly to her Bible as a man flies to dram-drinking, or his pipe, when things go wrong." He got tired of his cigar at last, and went out into the shop, where he began to question Mr.Tulliver as to the extent and value of the stock-in-trade, and upon other details of the business; to all of which inquiries the shopman replied in a suspicious and grudging spirit, giving his questioner the smallest possible amount of information.
"You're an uncommonly cautious young man," Mr.Nowell exclaimed at last.
"You'll never stand in your own light by being too anxious to oblige other people.

I daresay, though, you could speak fast enough, if it was made worth your while." "I don't see what is to make it worth my while," Luke Tulliver answered coolly.

"My duty is to my dead master, and those that are to come after him.

I don't want strangers coming sniffing and prying into the stock.
Mr.Nowell's books were kept so that I couldn't cheat him out of a sixpence, or the value of a sixpence; and I mean to hand 'em over to the lawyer in a manner that will do me credit.

My master has not been a generous master to me, considering how I've served him, and I've got nothing but my character to look to; but that I have got, and I don't want it tampered with." "Who is going to tamper with it ?" said Mr.Nowell.