The Remittance Man by Ambrose Pratt — Read

Major Reay was still occupied with his morning correspondence when Jan's rather tremulous knock sounded on the office door. The machinery was always silent for an hour after the Major's arrival at the factory, and the old gentleman had not been seated half that time. He shrank from answering the summons at once, however, although he heard it distinctly. He was thinking that an unpleasant interview was before him, and that he was growing old, very old. With all his heart he wished that his son Jack were of age to relieve him of at least a share of his responsibilities. He liked Jan, and he was about to dismiss him from his service, and Jan was standing just without the door. It was very hard on him that he should have to lose Jan. The fellow was an excellent servant who saved him innumerable worries, a man who loved work for its own sake, and who managed his underlings with rare address. Why in the name of goodness could not the fellow have acted sensibly and have suppressed his foolish sympathies? Even if the men were underpaid--and the Major was inclined to think they were, what did it matter to Jan? His salary was satisfactory, at all events. What on earth, then, did the fool expect to gain by his folly? The Major shook his head and knitted his shaggy brows together. The problem defied his wits, but a sudden thought flashed into his mind. Perhaps Jan had repented his offence and was even then waiting to apologise! In that case he would show the young man that he could forgive, in spite of his reputation for unbending sternness. Yes, he liked Jan! A light of happy expectation came into his eyes, and he turned to the door on which the summons had been impatiently repeated.

"Come in," he said.