The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 | THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. bursts of passion. The old clerk’s influence with Grindem was one of those mysteries which Small could never understand, and he had tried a hundred times to penetrate it. The old clerk’s salary was moderate, even for his services, and he had never been known either to express dissatisfaction, or solicit an advance. Gilbert Grindem, so proud, overbearing, and despotic in his dealings with mankind, was quiet, and at times even humble with Gridley. Decidedly there was a mystery. The door of the apartment opened, and the head of the firm, followed by his nephew, made his appearance; the pens of the three junior Smalls flew with increased rapidity over the invoices, day book, and ledger, whilst poor Richard trembled at the inconsiderate conduct of his well-meaning friend. ‘What is the meaning of this disturbance ?”’ demanded Grindem, in a voice of unusual mildness. “ Tt means, sir, that I have been grossly insulted,” replied Mr. Small, ‘ by your clerk.” ‘* Impossible !”” replied his partner, drily. ““It means, sir,” exclaimed Gridley, with an air in which defiance and respect were strangely mingled, ‘‘that Mr. Small presumed to call me scoundrel before his three sons and Mr. Lawrence; you know,’ he added, ‘¢ whether I deserve that appellation or no ?”’ * Certainly not,” said Gilbert, biting his lips to con- ceal his anger, and perhaps to repress the inclination he felt to kick the old clerk out of the counting-house. “I COniiclooecl SS (SO