Then Sir Joseph had turned round very serious and asked if he, Rickman, had any other sons, because, whatever he did with the rest of them, he must make this one a scholar.

Isaac had said No, he hadn't any but that one boy, and he would have to be brought up to the business.

He was afraid he couldn't spare the time to make much of a scholar of him.

Time, said Isaac, was money.

What Sir Joseph said then Isaac had never forgotten.