It is mebbe right to believe in a man until you find
out he isn't worthy of trust."
"That is quite contrary to your usual advice, Greenwood."
"_Privately_, sir, I am a very trusting man. That is my nature--but in
business it is different--trusting doesn't work in business, sir. You
know that, sir."
John nodded an assent, and said, "Look after loom forty, Greenwood. It
was idle. Find out the reason. As to Akers, I shall do the kind and just
thing, you may rest on that. Is he a pleasant man personally?"
"I dare say he is pleasant enough at a dinner-table, and I'll allow that
he is varry unpleasant at a piece table in the Town Hall. But webs of
stuff and pieces of cloth naturally lock up a man's best self. He
wouldn't hev got back to be Akers of Akerside if things wern't that way
ordered."
This Club news troubled John. He did not believe that Akers cared a
penny piece for a membership, and pooh-pooh it as he would, this
trifling affair would not let him alone. It gnawed under the great
sorrow of Jane's absence, like a rat gnawing under his bed or chair.
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