Take the shop without the house above it."

I suppose I might put my head in to mind it," said Mr. Polly, "and

get a job with my body."

"Not exactly that. But I thought you'd save a lot if you stayed on

here--being all alone as you are."

"Never thought of that, O' Man," said Mr. Polly, and reflected

silently upon the needlessness of Miriam.

We were talking of eighty pounds for stock," said Johnson. "Of course

seventy-five is five pounds less, isn't it? Not much else we can cut."

"No," said Mr. Polly.

"It's very interesting, all this," said Johnson, folding up the half

sheet of paper and unfolding it. "I wish sometimes I had a business of

my own instead of a fixed salary. You'll have to keep books of

course."

"One wants to know where one is."

"I should do it all by double entry," said Johnson. "A little

troublesome at first, but far the best in the end."

151

The History of Mr Polly