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236 business men here are about as much use as nursery-maids. They go down to their offices round about eleven, and sit there till one. Then they eat a heavy lunch, and stroll back about two to see if anything has happened. Of course it hasn't; things don't happen unless you make them happen. So they light a big cigar, and go down to Woking for an evening round of golf after the fatigues of the day. Saturdays they don't put in an appearance at all. That's their idea of business. And it tells on me rather; it's difficult to keep up ordinary high pressure when you're surrounded by so many flabby bits of chewed string. I guess I'll go back to America in the fall, and get braced {[rsquo|up.}}

said Amehe, falling more and more into her native vernacular.

Mr. Palmer did not listen to this; he was pursuing his own melancholy reflections on English business methods.

he said.

He got up from his chair in some impatience, folded up the maps, and stood looking at his daughter in silence for a moment.