Read i 3d091ef367b6a8bf for Free Online

was doing his rounds and had taken her with him. And there was this boy. She thought he looked like an imp: he was darting here and there, and he had stopped before her and smiled at her, and she saw that he had the most beautiful eyes.'Is there something on your mind, miss, about Joe?'She started slightly before saying,
    'No, George; I was just thinking about Father, and I'm sure he would have thought along the same lines as you do.''Oh yes, your father. He knew a worker when he saw one.' He leant towards her, saying
    'How would it be, miss, if I sent him in'? you broke the news to him yourself?'
    'I would like that very much, George. Yes, that's a good idea of yours.'
    52Alone in the little office, she looked down at her hands still encased in her riding gloves, and she thought, I'm about to make Joe the manager of a small boot-polish factory. Would it were Palmer's shipyard, or Redhead's, or Armstrong's. Oh yes, would it were.When the door opened and Joe stood there hesitating on the threshold, she said, 'Come in, Joe. Come in.''You wanted to see me, miss?''Yes, Joe, I wanted to see you. And I'll come to the point. Mr Fields is long past retiring. He should have done it five, or even ten years ago. But now I'm glad he didn't, because you wouldn't have been ready for the position, I mean, of taking his place.'When Joe didn't answer her, but stared down into her face, she said,
    'You're hesitating. Is there some reason? I know it will be a big change for you. You'll have to train someone into your work; and then there'll be the office.' She now patted the ledger. 'But you can read and write, can't you?''Oh yes, miss. Oh yes, I can read and write, and reckon.'
    53'Yes, yes, I thought you could. Are you still going to the classes?''Yes, miss, regularly twice a week; and a lecture when one's on.''Good. Good. Well then, what is your answer?''Well, miss, it's foregone. I mean, I was a bit stumped. I know old ... I mean Mr Fields is gettin' on, but he's been here so long . . .
    well, I thought he wouldn't be leaving till he dropped down dead on the job. An' then there's Johnnie, Johnnie Mclnnes.''Oh, we've been over that.' They exchanged a smile and when she said quietly, 'Mr Fields is really tired and is recognizing it. It was he, you know, who recommended you for the position.'
    Then in a conspiratorial tone, she said, 'I led up to it by asking him if he would like someone like Mr King, YOU know, from the candle factory.''Oh.' Joe's head jerked upwards. 'You put your foot in it there, miss. That name's like a rag to a bull to him.''I thought it might be.''He'd rather have taken Danny Green off
    54the dray carts and brought him inside than have anybody like Mr King.''Yes, I imagine he would. But he mentioned you; and if he hadn't, I would have done so myself.''Oh, thank you, miss. Thank you. You'll not lose by it, I can tell you that; I've got ideas in me head. We could do much better than we do already, you know, miss. Not that, oh no'-his hand was wagging before his face now-'not that I'm saying a word against Mr Fields's ways. No, they're steady, steady and sure. But I just thought that here and there, there could be a change that I think would bring in more custom. We could do a lot of advertising, like Mrs Martha Simms: Bone manure, charcoal, blackin' and coal dust. You know, her and her lads in Nun's Lane.' He began to laugh, and she with him; and then she said, 'I've seen it. It's done in really beautiful script, too good for the product, I think, but nevertheless, she's an enterprising lady, and we could do worse than copy her and put in an advert mentioning our acid-free boot-top blacking liquid and our special heel polish.'
    55'Great, miss. Yes, great. An' perhaps you could engage a traveller, sort of.''Yes. Yes' - she nodded at him - 'that's a very good idea, too. We must discuss it later,Joe.''We will, miss. And thank you very much indeed, yes, indeed. An' you know, it's odd, miss, but I was gonna collar you ... I