Garman and Worse

s how it goes! That's rig

es the boys began to titter, and those on the lower ones, who had not such a fine ear for the French verbs, soon caught the infection; while the unhappy wretch who was undergoing examination, sat trembling lest the master should not

owever, a curious, wayward boy. In some things, such as arithmetic and mathematics generally, he distinguished himself; but in Greek and Latin, w

in resumed the book, to continue the examination. As ill luck would have it, he once more repeated, "Avoir, avant," and then half ab

answered Gab

ertinent? I'll teach you! Where's the persuader?" and the master strode u

a long American goat's-beard and a blue seaman's cap. "Are you there?" said the head, addressing Master Gabriel in a half-drunken voice. "Is that where you are,

he desk, quite scandalized at this disturbance of order, the head suddenly stopped in its haran

moment the bell rang to announce that the school-hour was over, the class broke up

probably gone down to the town to continue his libations. This friend was a foreman shipwright, who, since his return from America, had borne the

ost both the patience and the firmness of his employers. He had already built several vessels for Garman and

that had been built at that port up to the present time, and Consul Garman ha

en they came to any important epoch in the building. On that day, for instance

ing to their dinner in the town. They looked tired and weary, it is true; still, he envied them their permission to sit working the whole day in the office--a paradise with which he, although his father's son, had no connection whatever. He was obliged to confine his energy to the building-yard, where there were plenty of hiding-places, and where the Consul was seldom seen of an afternoon. The ship on the stocks was at once his joy a

een a difference of opinion between his father and Morten, the eldest son, who wa

hen sailing ships would be entirely superseded by steamers. But the father held by sailing ships on principle; and, moreover, the idea that Garman and Worse should have anything in common with the mushroom houses of the town

king the beauty of her bow, and the elegant rake of her stern. It was the dinner-hour, and all the workmen were either at home, in the cottages which stretched along the west side of the bay, or lay asleep among the shavings. As he

thern side, towards the sea, he could discern the carriage drive, and the extensive level yard with the ancient lime tree standing in the middle of it. Beyond that came four warehouses standing in a row, all painted yellow, with brown doors; and further on still, close down to the innermost cur

wed to be a farmer, he could have turned his attention to agriculture, and still have been near the counting-

er to the university, and he was determined to do the same. The thought sometimes occurred to the wilful Gabriel, that

that a young man should battle against his inclinations; nothing could be more ba

when at some distance his eye caught sight of some one on horseback, whom he soon recogn

nd good cheer which Uncle Richard always brought with him. He determined to hasten off to the kitchen to tell Miss Cordsen,

n. "Make up the fire, Martha;" an

id Consul Garman, givin

ised Miss Cordsen into an impropriety, in which he seldom succeeded; and his fath

ully brushed so as to make the most of it. His eyes were keen, and of a light blue colour; and his lower jaw was somewhat prominent. Smoothly shaved and well brushed, with stiff white neckcloth, shining boots, and silver-headed cane, there was something about his whole appearance which told of prosperity. E

on. In order to keep the business afloat during the disastrous years of the war, Morten W. Garman took into partnership a rich old skipper, by name Jacob Worse, from whence sprang the name of the firm. Thanks to old Worse's money, life came again into the tottering business, and Garman's great ability made the firm, in a few years, one of the mos

the Garmans really dated, while Worse in a fe

rather hastily, just as the good times were begi

years. Whatever might be the opinion as to the arrangement between Garman and Worse, no one could ever accuse Morten Garman of any want of straightforwardness in his

a partner in the firm. From that time many changes showed themselves. The son had his head full of new foreign ideas; he was all for rushing a

e to us," sai

hind? It's of no use in these days to sit still; you must keep your eyes open, or else

in the town, but under his own name; for Garman and Worse were still to be found only at S

ether please the Consul, but he felt bound to uphold his son, which was what his father had always done, a

eir own private secrets. It was believed that he knew every page in the ledger, and that he could quote intricate accounts, column by column, and if there was even the slightest irregularity to be found anywhere, they would wager that it could not escape the young Co

ok; others thought that no such thing existed. True it was undoubtedly, that the chief carried on personally all the correspondence with his brother; and, wonderful to relate, these letters were never

ttle credence in the office; for it was a recognized fact that not one single paper existed which bore Richard Garman's signature. Another story, which was even less worthy of credit, was one told by the office messenger, who stated that one day he had brought a letter from Bratvold, and that as he came in with the portfolio he had found the young Consul standing by the key-drawer, with a letter in one hand and two bills of exchange in the other, quite