Exactly, sir. Excelsior."

I beg your pardon?"

I said excelsior, sir. It's a sort of motto of mine. From Longfellow.

Would you want me to serve through?"

The chubby gentleman explained and reverted to his ideals, with a

faint air of suspicion. "Do you mean getting on?" he asked.

I hope so, sir," said Mr. Polly.

Get on or get out, eh?"

Mr. Polly made a rapturous noise, nodded appreciation, and said

indistinctly--"Quite my style."

Some of my people have been with me twenty years," said the employer.

My Manchester buyer came to me as a boy of twelve. You're a

Christian?"

Church of England," said Mr. Polly.

H'm," said the employer a little checked. "For good all round

business work I should have preferred a Baptist. Still--"

The History of Mr Polly