"I wish to see Mr. Beagle."

"Mr. Beagle senior or Mr. Beagle junior?"

Youth cleaves to youth, said Gissing to himself. "Mr. Beagle
junior," he stated firmly.

"Have you an appointment?"

"Yes," he said.

She took his ward, disappeared, and returned. "This way, please,"
she said.

Mr. Beagle senior must be very old indeed, he thought; for junior
was distinctly grizzled. In fact (so rapidly does the mind run),
Mr. Beagle senior must be near the age of retirement. Very likely
(he said to himself) that will soon occur; there will be a
general stepping-up among members of the firm, and that will be
my chance. I wonder how much they pay a junior partner?

He almost uttered this question, as Mr. Beagle junior looked at
him so inquiringly. But he caught himself in time.

"I beg your pardon for intruding," said Gissing, "but I am the
new floorwalker."

"You are very kind," said Mr. Beagle junior, "but we do not need
a new floorwalker."