The man was frightened, for he had meant no deliberate cruelty.  He was only practicing the sound political economy of obtaining the most for the least, but in the words and stern face of the child he saw how his act must appear to a mind unwarped by interest and unhardened by selfish years.  Moreover, he could not bluster in the presence of death, and the thought that his greed had caused it chilled his heart with a sudden dread.  He caught at the extenuation her words suggested, and said gravely, “You are right; I did not know.  I would send food from my own table rather than any one should go hungry.  I knew nothing about this girl, and no one has told me of her need until this moment.  A man at the head of a great business cannot look after details.  The best he can do is to manage his business on business principles.  To prove that I’m sincere, I’ll take the girl back again at her old wages, although I do not need her.”

The man lied in giving a false impression.  It was true that he did not single out individuals as objects of intentional cruelty, but his system was hard and remorseless, and crushed like the wheels of Juggernaut, and he purposely shut his eyes to all questions and consequences save those of profit and loss.  When compelled to face, through Belle’s eyes, an instance of the practical outcome of his system, he shuddered and trembled, for the moment, and was inclined to ease his conscience by a little ostentatious kindness, especially as the facts in the case bade fair to become known.  Men who, unlike Belle, have little fear of God or the devil, do fear public opinion.  The girl interpreted him, however, after her own warm, guileless heart, and in strong revulsion of feeling said, tearfully, “Please forgive me, sir, for speaking as I have.  I’ve done you wrong, and I acknowledge it frankly, but I was almost beside myself.  We didn’t either of us mean them any harm.”

The man could not repress a smile at Belle’s association of herself with him in the guilt of the affair.  In fact, he rather liked the idea, for it made his own part seem quite venial after all—­an error of ignorance like that of the child’s—­so he said kindly, “Indeed, we did not, and now we’ll make amends.  You go and see what is needed and let me know, and to-morrow, if you wish, you can take your own place and not any one’s else.  You are a smart, good-hearted girl, and by and by I can give you better wages.”

“I did you wrong, sir,” repeated Belle remorsefully, “and now that you will take Clara back, I’d work for you almost for nothing.  When and where shall I come?” she added humbly; “I don’t wish to seem rude any more.”

“Come to my house this evening,” and he gave her his number.

“I beg your pardon for what I said.  Good-by, sir,” and with tearful eyes and downcast face she went to the street, without a glance on either side.

The man sat for a few moments with a heavily contracting brow.  At last he stretched out his hand and sighed, “I’d give all there is in this store if my heart was like that girl’s, but here I am at this hour engaged in a transaction which is the devil’s own bargain, and with a firm that can’t help itself because it is in my power.  Hang it all! business is business; I’ll lose a cool thousand unless I carry it through as I’ve begun.”  He seized his pen and carried it through.