To-day, well, I'm half glad
and I'm half sorry that they're not here. If they walked into this
office now I'd swallow a bean as quickly as I could, but I tell you
frankly, Mr. Waddington, that at the present moment it seems entirely
reasonable to me. Money, after all, is worth having, isn't it?--a nice
comfortable sum so that one could sit back and just have a good time.
Don't stare at me like that. Of course, I'm half ashamed of what I'm
saying. There's the other part pulling and tugging away all the time
makes me feel inclined to kick myself, but I can't help it. I know that
these half formed ideas of enjoyment by means of wealth are only
degrading, that one would sink--oh, hang it all, Mr. Waddington, what a
mess it all is!"
Mr. Waddington pulled down his desk.
"We must go through with it, Burton," he said firmly. "You're more
advanced than I am in this thing, I can see. You'll need your bean
quickly. I believe I can hold off till after the sale. But--I've a
curious sort of temptation at the present moment, Burton. Shall I tell
you what it is?"
"Go ahead," Burton answered gloomily.
Mr. Waddington slapped his trousers pocket.
"Before we do another thing," he suggested, "let's go round to the
Golden Lion and have just one bottle of beer--just to feel what it's
like, eh?"
Burton sprang up.
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