‘But things is different,’ insisted Jim eagerly. ‘It were the opposition—of which there would be no more, not a scrap—as did for you; and I would manage for you again, if you liked to have me. There’s a deal more work left in me yet than some folks think for,’ Jim put in resentful parenthesis, flicking away the remains of flour from his sleeve. ‘I’m not the man as would advise another man, least of all you, Master Oliver, if you will believe me, to fling good money after bad; but here is the finest chance as ever Providence made—on purpose, I had a’most said, for you to retrieve your losses, and build up Constable’s business again on a firmer foundation than ever, and carry out your schemes to boot,’ cried Jim, waxing enthusiastic, ‘if you’ll not go and fling it to the dogs in a pet.’ Oliver was fairly puzzled. He was a man tenacious of his principles and projects. So far from being wearied out by disappointment and thwarting, and glad of the excuse to throw the baking business over, it ‘riled’ him thoroughly, tortured and mortified him, to resign it and all the hopes he had set upon it, after what they had cost him. He was strongly tempted to catch at the most distant prospect, consistent with common prudence, of resuming the trade, and waging it thenceforth to a triumphant issue, for the benefit of his fellow-men. But what of the old practical difficulties with Jim? Oliver was not disposed to yield an atom of what he looked upon as trade righteousness. Sooner sacrifice half-a-dozen businesses, or promises of business, than make a holocaust of his trade creed, which was a prominent part of his Christian creed. Jim, with the hold on his master which the manager’s having largely contributed to buy back the business must give him, would be in a position to maintain his opposite views, while Oliver would no longer have the power to object to them, far less to put them down. ‘I am greatly obliged to you, Jim,’ said Oliver, at last, ‘and not the least for this—that, in spite of the mull I have made, you speak as if you had some faith in me still. But I am not cured of my hobbies; I am as great a fool as ever, you will think, when I tell you that I cannot be in business as a baker and suffer artificially-whitened bread, or fancy bread which is not weighed, to go out of my shop. Besides, I do not know what other eccentricities might occur to me, which I should feel bound to see carried out.’ Instead of the half-repressed disgust which Oliver had expected to excite, Jim met the declaration with a shame-faced assent. ‘Never mind, Master Oliver, them are trifles after all, and it’s erring on the safe side. Yes, sir, I’m bound to say to you this much—it’s erring on the safe side,’ raising his voice, and speaking sternly, while he fumbled nervously with his watch-chain.