CHAPTER XV.
When John went back to the office after the noonday intermission it was manifest that something had happened to Mr.Timson, and that the something was of a nature extremely gratifying to that worthy gentleman.
He was beaming with satisfaction and rustling with importance.

Several times during the afternoon he appeared to be on the point of confiding his news, but in the face of the interruptions which occurred, or which he feared might check the flow of his communication, he managed to restrain himself till after the closing of the office.

But scarcely were the shutters up (at the willing hands of Peleg Hopkins) when he turned to John and, looking at him sharply, said, "Has Dave said anythin' 'bout my leavin' ?" "He told me he expected you would stay as long as might be necessary to get me well started," said John non-committally, mindful of Mr.Harum's injunction.
"Jest like him," declared Chet.

"Jest like him for all the world; but the fact o' the matter is 't I'm goin' to-morro'.

I s'pose he thought," reflected Mr.Timson, "thet he'd ruther you'd find it out yourself than to have to break it to ye, 'cause then, don't ye see, after I was gone he c'd lay the hull thing at my door." "Really," said John, "I should have said that he ought to have told me." "Wa'al," said Chet encouragingly, "mebbe you'll git along somehow, though I'm 'fraid you'll have more or less trouble; but I told Dave that as fur 's I c'd see, mebbe you'd do 's well 's most anybody he c'd git that didn't know any o' the customers, an' hadn't never done any o' this kind o' work before." "Thank you very much," said John.