"We've no room in this office for boys of your kind, and unless you change you must go somewhere else.

You've played the fool quite enough here." I would fain have replied to justify myself, but in the junior partner's present temper the attempt would have been hazardous.
So I said nothing and returned to my work, determined for my own credit, as well as in my own interest, to show Mr Barnacle that he had judged me harshly.
How I worked that week! I refused invitation after invitation, and stayed late after every one else had gone to get ahead with my work.
During office hours I steadily abstracted myself from what was going on all round, and determined that nothing should draw me from my tasks.

I even volunteered for and undertook work not strictly my own, greatly to the amazement of everybody, especially Wallop, who began to think there really must be something in the rumour that I was not well.

And all the while I most assiduously doctored my face, which gradually came to resume its normal complexion.
I could see that this burst of industry was having its due effect in high quarters.

Mr Barnacle, who after his lecture had treated me gruffly and abruptly for some days, began again to treat me civilly, and Mr Merrett bestowed once or twice a special commendation on my industry.
In due time, so far from feeling myself a repentant idler, I had grown to consider myself one of the most virtuous, industrious, and well- principled clerks in London, and in proportion as this conviction got hold of me my application to work relaxed.