"
"Well, fill your glass, then, and I'll talk for you. I have got
something to say for you, young gentleman." David filled his glass and
forced himself to attend; after a while no effort was needed.
"Dodd," resumed the mature merchant, "I need hardly tell you that I
have a particular regard for you; the reason is, you are a young man
of uncommon merit."
"Mr. Bazalgette! sir! I don't know which way to look when you praise
me like that. It is your goodness; you overrate me."
"No, I don't. I am a judge of men. I have seen thousands, and seen
them too close to be taken in by their outside. You are the only one
of my wife's friends that ever had the run of my study. What do you
think of that, now?"
"I am very proud of it, sir; that is all I can find to say."
"Well, young man, that same good opinion I have of you induces me to
do something else, that I have never done for any of your
predecessors."
Mr. Bazalgette paused. David's heart beat. Quick as lightning it
darted through his mind, "He is going to ask a favor for me.
Promotion? Why not? He is a merchant. He has friends in the Company.'"
"I am going to interfere in your concerns, Dodd."
"You are very good, sir."
"Well, perhaps I am. I have to overcome a natural reluctance. But you
are worth the struggle. I shall therefore go against the usages of the
world, which I don't care a button for, and my own habits, which I
care a great deal for, and give you, humph--a piece of friendly
advice.
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