It gave him pleasure to be called 'my lad' by old Meshach. It was
piquant to him that the first earthenware factor in New York, the
Jupiter of a Fourteenth Street office, should be addressed as a
stripling. 'And where is the park to be?' he suavely inquired.

'Up by the railway station, opposite your father's old works as
was--it's a row of villas now.'

'Well,' said Twemlow. 'That sounds pretty nice. I believe I'll get you
to come around with me and show off the sights. Say!' he added suddenly,
'do you remember being on that works one day when my poor father was on
to me like half a hundred of bricks, and you said, "The boy's all right,
Mr. Twemlow"? I've never forgotten that. I've thought of it scores of
times.'

'Nay!' Meshach answered carelessly, 'I remember nothing o' that.'

Twemlow was dashed by this oblivion. It was his memory of the minute
incident which more than anything else had encouraged him to respond so
cordially to Meshach's advances in Liverpool; for he was by no means
facile in social intercourse. And Meshach had rudely forgotten the
affecting scene! He felt diminished, and saw in the old bachelor a
personification of the blunt independent spirit of the Five Towns.

* * * * *

'Milly's late to-day,' said Hannah to her brother, timorously breaking
the silence which ensued.

'Milly?' questioned Twemlow.