In his new employment the condition was reversed.  It seemed as if everything his father had desired him to do was interdicted in Malcolm Lightener’s vast organization; everything that had been taboo before was required of him now.  He was asked to think; he was taught to make his individuality felt; he was encouraged to suggest and to exercise his intelligence independently.  There were actually suggestion boxes in every department where the humblest laborer might deposit a slip of paper telling the boss any notion he had which he deemed of service to the enterprise.  More than that—­any suggestion accepted was paid for according to its value.

In Bonbright’s father’s plant change and invention were frowned upon.  New devices were regarded as impious.  The typewriter was tolerated; the telephone was regarded with shame.  The Ancestors had not made use of such things. ...Malcolm Lightener let no instrument for adding efficiency pass untried.  It was the same in office and in shop.  The plant was modern to the second—­indeed, it was a stride ahead of the minute.  There was a large experimental laboratory presided over by an engineer of inventive trend, whose business it was to eliminate and combine processes; to produce machines which would enable one man to perform the labor of three; to perform at one process and one handling the work that before required several processes and the passing of the thing worked upon from hand to hand.

If Bonbright had been interested in any phase of his father’s business it had been in the machine shops.  Now he saw how costly were those antique processes, how wasteful of time and labor.  His father’s profits were large; Bonbright saw very quickly how a revolution in methods would make them enormous.  But he knew that revolution would not take place—­the Ancestors forbade. ...

The thing had started at the first moment of his connection with Malcolm Lightener as an employee.  He had reported promptly at seven o’clock, and found Lightener already in his office.  It was Lightener’s custom to come down and to go home later for breakfast.

“Morning,” said Lightener.  “Where’s your overalls?”

“Overalls?” said Bonbright.

“Didn’t I tell you to bring some?  You’ll need ’em.  Wait, I’ll send a boy out for some—­while we have a talk. ...Now then, you’ve got a job.  After six o’clock you and I continue on the same basis as before; between seven in the morning and six at night you’re one of the men who work for me—­and that’s all.  You get no favors.  What they get you get. ...There aren’t any soft jobs or hangers-on here.  Everybody earns what he’s paid—­or he finds he isn’t getting paid.  Clear?”

“Perfectly,” said Bonbright, not wholly at his ease.