From the habit of associating with them from boyhood he had fallen somewhat into their own loose, indefinite manner, and had lost the prestige which attaches to a master.

To them he seemed like one of themselves, and they were as much inclined to argue with him as to obey.

When he met them in the morning he would say, 'Perhaps we had better do so and so,' or 'Suppose we go and do this or that.' They often thought otherwise; and it usually ended in a compromise, the master having his way in part, and the men in part.

This lack of decision ran through all, and undid all that his hard work achieved.

Everything was muddled from morn till night, from year's end to year's end.