“Here is your bundle, ma'am,” said the clerk.
Mrs. Hoffman's strength was slender, and she did not feel able to carry the heavy bundle offered her. Even if she took the car, she would be obliged to carry it a portion of the way, and she felt that it would overtask her strength.
“Sometimes,” said the clerk, looking superciliously at the modest attire of the poor widow, and mentally deciding that she was not entitled to much consideration. Had she been richly dressed, he would have been very obsequious, and insisted on sending home the smallest parcel. But there are many who have two rules of conduct, one for the rich, and quite a different one for the poor, and among these was the clerk who was attending upon Mrs. Hoffman.
“Then,” said Mrs. Hoffman, “I should like to have you send this.”
“It's a great deal of trouble to send everything,” said the clerk, impertinently.
“This bundle is too heavy for me to carry,” said the widow, deprecatingly.
“I suppose we can send it,” said the clerk, ill-naturedly, “if you insist upon it.”
Meanwhile, though he had not observed it, his employer had approached, and heard the last part of the colloquy. He was considered by some as a hard man, but there was one thing he always required of those in his employ; that was to treat all purchasers with uniform courtesy, whatever their circumstances.
“Are you objecting to sending this lady's bundle?” said Mr. Barclay, sternly.
“I told her we would send it,” he stammered.
“I have heard what passed. You have been deficient in politeness. If this happens again, you leave my employ.”
“I will take your address,” said the clerk, in a subdued tone.
Mrs. Hoffman gave it, and left the store, thankful for the interference of the great merchant who had given his clerk a lesson which the latter, as he valued his situation, found it advisable to bear in mind.
While Mike Donovan was engaged in his contest with Paul, his companion had quietly walked off with the shirt. It mattered very little to him which party conquered, as long as he carried off the spoils. His conduct in the premises was quite as unsatisfactory to Mike as it was to Paul. When Mike found himself in danger of being overpowered, he appealed to his companion for assistance, and was incensed to see him coolly disregarding the appeal, and selfishly appropriating the booty.