discussion between father and son had ended with the same words.

"It is business time," he resumed. "Let us confine ourselves to
business. I see that Illinois were at 112 yesterday."

"They are at 113 this morning."

"What! have you been on 'Change already?"

"Yes, I dropped in there on my way to the office. I would hold on to
those. They will go up for some days yet."

The senior partner made a pencil note on the margin of the list.

"We'll hold on to the cotton we have," he said.

"No, sell out at once," Ezra answered with decision, "I saw young
Featherstone, of Liverpool, last night, or rather this morning. It was
hard to make head or tail of what the fool said, but he let fall enough
to show that there was likely to be a drop."

Girdlestone made another mark upon the paper. He never questioned his
son's decisions now, for long experience had shown him that they were
never formed without solid grounds. "Take this list, Ezra," he said,
handing him the paper, "and run your eye over it. If you see anything
that wants changing, mark it."

"I'll do it in the counting-house," his son answered. "I can keep my
eye on those lazy scamps of clerks. Gilray has no idea of keeping them
in order."