"So you want my advice, eh?" he asked, looking hard at Marley.
Dudley still hesitated. He continued to study Marley out of his little eyes. Presently he inquired, as if by way of getting a basis to start on:
"Yes, sir," Marley answered promptly; "I graduated in June."
"Why," Marley replied in some surprise, "the full four years."
"Four years," Dudley repeated. "How old?"
"Well, that's that much time wasted. If a young man's going to get along these times, and make anything of himself, he has to start early, learn business ways and habits. He's got to begin at the bottom, and feel his way up." The banker was speaking now with a reckless waste of words that was surprising. "The main thing at first is to work; it ain't the money. Now, when I come to Macochee, forty-seven years ago, I hadn't nothing. But I went to work, I was up early, and I went to bed early; I worked hard all day, I 'tended to business, and I saved my money. That's it, young man, that's the only way--up early, work hard, and save your money." Dudley leaned back in his chair to let Marley contemplate him.
"But what did you work at? At first, I mean."
"Why," said Dudley, as if in surprise, "at anything I could get. I wan't proud; I wan't 'fraid o' work."
Marley leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and began twirling his hat in his hands. Then, thinking the attitude lacking in respect, he sat up again.
"Then, I was careful of my habits," Dudley went on. "I never touched a bit o' tobacco, nor tasted a drop o' liquor in my life."
"Sometimes," Marley hesitated to confess.
"Humph! Learned that at college, I suppose." Marley made no reply.
"Well, you've started wrong, young man. That wan't the way I made myself. I never touched a drop of liquor nor tasted tobacco. I worked hard and God prospered me--yes, God prospered me."
"Now, I'll tell you." He seemed to be about to impart the secret of it all. "When I was your age, I embraced religion, and I promised God that if he'd prosper me I'd give a tenth of all I made to the church; a tenth, yes, sir, a full tenth." The banker paused again as if making a calculation, and a trouble gathered for an instant at his hairless brows, but, as if by an effort, he smoothed them so that they became meek and submissive. And then he went on, as if he had found a species of relief: