[Gutenberg 23647] • Shining Ferry

John Rosewarne sat in his counting-house at Hall, dictating a letter to his confidential clerk. The letter ran- "Dear Sir, -In answer to yours of the 6th inst., I beg to inform you that in consequence of an arrangement with the Swedish firms, by which barrel-staves will be trimmed and finished to three standard lengths before shipment, we are enabled to offer an additional discount of five per cent, for the coming season on orders of five thousand staves and upwards. Such orders, however, should reach us before the fishery begins, as we hold ourselves free to raise the price at any time after 1st July. A consignment is expected from the Baltic within the next fortnight." The little clerk looked up. His glance inquired, "Is that all?" "Wait a minute." His master seemed to be reflecting; then leaning back in his chair and gripping its arms while he stared out of the bow-window before him, he resumed his dictation- "I hope to be in Plymouth on Wednesday next, and that you will hold yourself ready for a call between two and three in the afternoon at your office." "I beg your pardon, sir," the clerk interposed, "but Mr. Samuel closes early on Wednesdays.